It was a night when the cinema and agriculture were united—in essence this was the sentiment that prevailed during the recent ToFarm Film Festival Awards at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la Hotel with Kapuso artists Dingdong Dantes and Carla Abellana as hosts.
The members of the panel of judges tasked to choose the winners were director Peque Gallaga, Manunuri President Gigi Javier-Alfonso, cinematographer Odyssey Flores, screenwriter Ricky Lee and recent Cannes Film Festival best actress Jaclyn Jose.
Performers during the festival included London based soprano and theater artist Christine Allado, world renowned pianist and CCP President, Dean Raul Sunico, the all male vocal group Aleron and the Whiplash Dancers.
Cherry Pie Picache and Bembol Roco brought home the best actress and best actor trophies for their performance in Poalo Villaluna’s road trip Pauwi Na.
Roco tied with indigenous performer Garry Cabalic, lead actor in Zig Dulay’s Paglipay for Best Actor.
It was revealed during the awards proper that Cabalic almost did not make it to the awards night. He was personally fetched by ToFarm organizer Dr. Milagros How from his village in Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales in a helicopter.
Paglipay, Pauwi Na and Maricel Cariaga’s Pitong Kabang Palay emerged as the film festival’s major winners.
Best Picture winner Paglipay also won People’s Choice, Best Director for Zig Dulay, Best Supporting Actress for first time winner Anna Luna, and Best Cinematography for Albert Banzon.
Pauwi Na also won the Special Award for Outstanding Film, Best Story and Best Editing for Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos and Best Production Design for Mao Fadul.
Pitong Kabang Palay won 2nd Best Picture, the Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Best Supporting Actor for the tween actor Micko Laurente, Best Sound for Arnel de Vera, Best Music for Lorenzo Nielsen, and Best Screenplay for Cariaga.
Provincial screenings of the entries are slated on Aug. 24 to 30 at SM Angeles and SM Cabanatuan; Sept.r 14 to 20 at SM Cebu; and Oct. 12 to 18 in SM Davao.
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Winners of the ToFarm Film Festival 2016
Best Supporting Actor—Micko Laurente, Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Supporting Actress—Anna Luna, Paglipay
Best Sound—Arnel de Vera, Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Music—Lorenzo Nielsen, Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Production Design—Mao Fadul, Pauwi Na
Best Editing—Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, Pauwi Na
Best Cinematography—Albert Banzon, Paglipay
Best Screenplay—Maricel Cariaga, Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Story—Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, Pauwi Na
People’s Choice Award—Paglipay
ToFarm Festival Professional Responsibility Award—Kakampi
Ingenuity Award—Pilapil
Best Actor—Bembol Roco, Pauwi na and Gabby Cabalic, Paglipay
Best Actress—Cherry Pie Picache, Pauwi Na
Jury Special Award for Outstanding Film—Pauwi na
ToFarm Film Festival Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble—Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Director—Zig M Dulay, Paglipay
3rd Best Picture—Free Range
2nd Best Picture—Pitong Kabang Palay
Best Picture—–Paglipay