Bakak by Studio Beta Productions

Davao filmmaker and educator Ronald Gary Bengil Bautista did it again. After taking home most of the trophies during the 5th Mindanao FilmFest, Bautista and his crew at Studio Beta Productions took home 4 trophies at this year’s 6th Mindanao FilmFest. Bautista’s collaboration with his younger brother Leo George Bautista, an action martial arts film entitled Ang Sipyat won Best in Sound.

Meanwhile, Gary Bautista’s Bakak won for him the Best Director Award, the Best Guerilla Film Award, and the Best Film Award. The jury, composed of NCAA’s Teddy Co, columnist and artist Rudolph Alama, and lifestyle columnist and blogger Ria Jose felt that Bakak is a film that is both technically excellent and a good representation of a new direction that Mindanao films will take.

Dungkoy

The melodrama Dungkoy by Jepoy Santos garnered honors for Best Musical Score, Best Original Song, and Best Cinematography.

Another melodrama, Eva by Red Rebel Productions were awarded with the Red Fist Award (Best in Production Value) and Best Workshop Film.

Acting awards were given to Roger Gonzales for his role as a lonely widower in the workshop film Alone, and to Jona Gegremosa for her role as the victim of an unfortunate crime committed by a spurned lover in Alberto Egot Jr.‘s Facebroke.

Joni Angeli Nuenay won the Best in Screenplay Award for her poignant story as told in Alone. Ampon took home the Best in Editing honors.

JP Seniel‘s short film Ug Libud A Tu Bubungan took home the trophy for Best Short Film (Open Category).

Thy Will be Done

In the Students’ Category, Kristian Somera took home the Best Film trophy for his film, Thy Will Be Done, a thriller with religious undertones.

It was a night of celebration for the winners and the participating films and filmmakers as the 6th Mindanao FilmFest marked a milestone with films that represent the best Mindanao talents and a local film industry that is ready to compete with the best in the Philippine and global film industries.

Congratulations to all organizers and filmmakers of the 6th Mindanao FilmFest!