MANILA, Philippines—“Serbis,” the story of a family forced to run a prostitution business inside a movie theater in Pampanga, won the biggest number of awards, including Best Picture, at the 32nd Gawad Urian for excellence in filmmaking awarding ceremony held on Saturday night.
“Serbis,” produced by Centerstage Productions, also won the Best Director award for Brillante Mendoza. The director, who is in Brazil to attend the Sau Paulo International Film Festival where a retrospective of his films was presented, told the Inquirer in a text message, “I’m very happy and honored with the recognition from a respected award giving body like the Manunuri. I’m glad they recognized the film despite the mixed reaction and reception it has received in the Philippines. It gives me inspiration … to tell more stories that are considered taboo by the general audience.”
The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the pioneering local society of film critics, also cited “Serbis” for Best Production Design and Best Cinematography
The film was the first Filipino full-length picture in 24 years to compete at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in France last year. Mendoza was named 2009 Cannes IFF Best Director for “Kinatay,” his film on a criminology student who takes on a job to earn extra money which he later learns involves killing a woman.
 |
100
Chris Martinez |
The Best Actor award was given to Ronnie Lazaro for his performance in “Yanggaw” as the patriarch of a small backwoods family who has to make difficult choices when he discovers that his daughter has been infected with a sickness that will turn her into a bloodthirsty monster. “I’ve waited for 27 years for this award,” Lazaro said during his acceptance speech.
“Yanggaw,” which means “infection” in Ilonggo, also won Best Supporting Actress honor for young thespian Aleera Montalla.
Mylene Dizon took home the Best Actress award for her role as a cancer-stricken woman in Chris Martinez’s “100.” The Best Supporting Actor trophy was given to Coco Martin for his work on “Jay,” a story on the death of a schoolteacher in a gay-bashing incident.
