“Manang Biring” hailed as Best Film at Cinema One Originals

The winners of the 2015 Cinema One Originals film festival

Director Carl Joseph Papa’s touching animated drama film “Manang Biring,” was recognized as the Best Film at the 2015 Cinema One Originals awards night. 

Carl Joseph Papa accepts the best film award for Manang Biring together with Erlinda Villalobos who plays the titular role

The only animated entry in this year’s Cinema One Originals, “Manang Biring” also won in two other categories namely Best Music and the Champion Bughaw Award. 

Carl’s animated film revolves around Manang Biring, a terminally ill old lady diagnosed with stage four breast cancer who gets an unexpected letter from a dear loved one who wants to reunite with her for Christmas. 

“I just entered ‘Manang Biring’ in Cinema One Originals because I wanted to fulfill our team’s dream to make a full-length animated film,” Carl said. He elaborated, “I am thankful to Cinema One Originals for giving us a chance to make our project. I hope our film will be screened in more cinemas in the Philippines.” 

Meanwhile, director Ralston Jover’s “Hamog,” a story on the lives of four street children who suddenly get caught in a web of consecutive and unforeseen tragedies, reaped four recognitions including Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and the coveted Jury Award. 

Child actors win big at Cinema One Originals. Therese Malvar (best actress) with co-star Bor Lentejas (best supporting actor), the stars of Ralston Jover's Hamog

Young stars Therese Malvar and Bor Lentejas also captured the crowd’s attention at the awards night when they were hailed as the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor of the festival, outshining seasoned actors in their respective categories. 

The two newcomers from “Hamog” were speechless. Therese, 15, who cried onstage as she accepted her second best actress award in her career, credited direk Ralston for her award-winning performance. 

“My role in ‘Hamog’ is serious. I’m very thankful to direk Ralston for his help and mentorship for me to do well,” Therese shared. She added, “I did not expect this at all. I did not even prepare a good speech. I’m just thankful to my management, my parents, and to God.” 

The awards night also paid tribute to Rox Lee, Joey Agbayani, Mike and Johnny Alcazaren, Nick Deocampo, and Raymond Red, the pillars of Philippine alternative cinema. 

Cinema One Originals is an annual film festival that allows talented Filipino storytellers to showcase their stories through film for 11 years. It is a local independent film festival of Cinema One, one of the cable channels of Creative Programs, Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN. 

The following are the winners at the 2015 Cinema One Originals festival: 

Jury Prize winner: Hamog, Ralston Jover 

Best Film: Manang Biring, Carl Joseph Papa 

Best Actress: Therese Malvar, Hamog 

Best Actor: Dino Patrano, Baka Siguro Yata 

Best Supporting Actress: Chai Fonacier, Miss Bulalacao 

Best Supporting Actor: Bor Lentejas, Hamog 

Best Director: Dayang Asu, Bor Ocampo 

Best Screenplay: Miss Bulalacao, Ara Chawdhury 

Best Cinematography: Dayang Asu (Albert Banzon)