About Us But Not About Us walked home as the biggest winner in the first Gabi ng Parangal for the first-ever Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.
Held on April 11 at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City, the film headlined by Romnick Sarmenta (who won the Best Actor plum) and Elijah Canlas (who, on the other hand, received the Special Jury Prize for acting) bagged a total of 10 trophies including the most coveted awards such as Best Director for Jun Robles Lana, Best Picture, and Best Cinematography.
About Us But Not About Us also took home the awards for Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Musical Score, and Best Screenplay.
Jun Lana’s latest masterpiece talks about the characters of Romnick as Ericson and his former student, Elijah, as Lancelot.
Seasoned actor Romnick bested his co-star Elijah and the other five actors and was recognized as the first-ever Best Actor of the first summer film festival.
“I just wanted to dedicate this first sa nanay ko, who’s always been very supportive…Inaalay ko din ‘to sa ating lahat. Hindi ‘to akin. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa mga hurado sa pagpuna niyo sa mga trabaho namin. At higit sa lahat, para sa lahat ng mga manggagawang Pilipino sa industriya ng pelikula, sa atin po ‘to,” Romnick said in his acceptance speech.
Meanwhile, Best Director and Best Screenplay recipient Lana expressed his thanks to his stars, who gave justice to the fictional characters he created.
“At higit sa lahat, sa dalawang artista ko, na nagbigay buhay sa mga salita ko, kay Romnick at Elijah, maraming-maraming salamat,” the multi-awarded actor said during his acceptance speech.
Last year, About Us But Not About Us also won the Best Film award during the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
The board of jurors was headed by internationally-acclaimed actress Dolly de Leon as the chairman alongside Jose Javier Reyes, Hon. Christopher VP de Venecia, Hon. Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Hon. Aloysia Tiongson-Lim, Thomas Orbos, Rolando B. Tolentino, Rochelle T. Macapili-Ona, Victor Neri, and Mario Bautista.
About Us But Not About Us is still showing in cinemas until April 18 alongside the other seven entries for this year’s Summer MMFF.