Young Critics Circle bares winners of film awards

THE Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle formally announces the winners of its annual film awards. “Inang Yaya” directed by Pablo Biglang-awa, Jr. and Veronica Velasco makes a clean sweep of the YCC honors for all categories, namely, Best Film of the Year given to the directors; Best Screenplay; Best Cinematography and Visual Design; Best Editing; Best Sound and Aural Orchestration and Best Performance for lead actress Maricel Soriano.

From the past year’s total local film output of 49 regular releases and more productions including digitals that had multiple screenings in any public venue that a paying audience has had access, “Inang Yaya” produced by Unitel Pictures emerged as the sole nominee and ultimate winner for most of the categories for the YCC film awards.

Only two other films managed to figure in YCC roll of honor this year by scoring nominations: “Kubrador” (MLR Films) with nods for Best Cinematography and Visual Design and Best Editing and “Kaleldo” (Centerstage) with Cherry Pie Picache in the roster for Best Performance. Nominated as well for Best Performance is the entire acting ensemble of “Inang Yaya.”

Awarding is on Thursday afternoon of March 8 at 2 p.m. at the Faculty Center Conference Hall in UP Diliman.

Established in 1990, YCC is the critics group with members coming from various disciplines. Through the years, they have become attentive observers of Philippine cinema constantly bringing into the analysis of film an interdisciplinary approach.

The organization departs from many conventions of other award-giving bodies both here and abroad in bestowing cinematic honors. For instance, the award for Best Film of the Year is reserved for the director such that no separate prize for direction is needed. The Best Performance award is most coveted as it is conferred on a screen performer whether male or female, adult or child, individual or as part of an ensemble, in leading or supporting role. To uphold a more dynamic and encompassing way of looking at films, technical honors refer to fusion of outstanding efforts in fields otherwise deemed apart. In this case, the Best Cinematography and Visual Design recognition covers both camerawork and art direction. Similarly, Best Sound and Aural Orchestration encompasses not just sound engineering per se but musical score as well.

The following is the roundup of complete winners and nominees for this year’s YCC film awards officially billed as the 17^th Annual Circle Citations for Distinguished Achievement in Film for 2006:

Best Film of the Year

Winner: Inang Yaya directed by Pablo Biglang-awa, Jr. and Veronica Velasco (Unitel Pictures; Tony Gloria, Producer; Wyngard Tracy and Maricel Soriano, Executive Producers; Jun Reyes and Tito Velasco, Co-Executive Producers; Noemi Peji, Line Producer)

No Other Nominee

Best Screenplay

Winner: Inang Yaya (Unitel) – Veronica Velasco

No Other Nominee

Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design

Winner: Inang Yaya (Unitel) – Gary Gardoce, Director of Photography; Norman Regalado, Production Designer

Nominee: Kubrador (MLR Films) – Roberto Yñiguez, Director of Photography; Leo Abaya, Production Designer

Best Achievement in Film Editing

Winner: Inang Yaya (Unitel) – Randy Gabriel

Nominee: Kubrador (MLR Films) – Jay Halili

Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration

Winner: Inang Yaya (Unitel) – Mark Locsin and Angie Reyes, Sound Engineers; Nonong Buencamino, Musical Director

No Other Nominee

Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role

Winner: Maricel Soriano in Inang Yaya (Unitel)

Nominees:

Cherry Pie Picache in Kaleldo (Centerstage)

Entire Cast of Inang Yaya (Unitel)

Young Critics Circle Film Desk

17th Annual Circle Citations for Distinguished Achievement in Film for 2006