Independent filmmaker Raymond Red’s “Himpapawid” almost swept the 2010 honor roll of the Young Critics’ Circle — dominating five of six categories.

Loosely based on a real-life incident and shown at the Tokyo Film Fest two years ago, “Himpapawid” won best film, screenplay, cinematography and visual design, editing and performance.

It tells the story of a desperate man (Raul Arellano) who is pushed to hijack a plane due to “society’s dehumanizing and oppressive social relations,” according to the YCC citation.

The YCC pointed out that the film “succeeds in investigating the poignant circularity of humanity’s convoluted fall… the impoverishment of Filipinos… all in terms simultaneously dialectic, cyclical and spiral.”

Multitasking director Red also won as the film’s scriptwriter and shared the honors in cinematography and visual design (with Danny Red, production designer; Cesar Hernando and Ronald Red, design consultants) and editing (with David Hukom and Jay Halili).

“I can’t deny that there is a certain pride and joy in being honored,” Red said, “but I’ve always believed that an award represents recognition not of one work nor of one person. It’s a celebration of the collective efforts and talents of the makers of all the films noted.”

He doesn’t believe that his film is necessarily the “best,” he said. Rather, the YCC citations come as “reaffirmation of our work’s merits and its power to affect opinion. For that, I am grateful and pleased.”

“Himpapawid” lead actor Arellano, a veteran of indie films, shared the best performer honor with newcomer Carla Abellana who was commended for her role in Jerrold Tarog’s “Punerarya,” an episode in Regal’s horror trilogy franchise “Shake, Rattle & Roll XII.”

“Punerarya” also topped the sound and aural orchestration category for sound designer Lamberto Casas and musical scorer Tarog.

Abellana expressed gratitude to the YCC for “recognizing my efforts.”

She told Inquirer Entertainment: “It feels great to be continuously honored for ‘Punerarya.’”

It’s Abellana’s second trophy for the same film, after being chosen best new actress by the movie press’ Star Awards earlier this year.

“I still can’t believe it. It’s a role I never even thought people would notice,” Abellana said.

Other nominees for best film were Tarog’s “Punerarya” and Remton Siega Zuasola’s “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria.”

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