‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ wins Best Film in Cinemalaya 2023

Carl Joseph Papa's groundbreaking Filipino-Ilocano rotoscope animated feature, “Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing),” not only marked a historic moment as the first animated full-length film to compete in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival but also for winning the Balanghai trophy for Best Film award.

At the closing ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Sunday night, the film was cited “for boldly taking on the challenges of technology in crafting a very engaging narrative of a young man confronting the demons of his past, and for its overall cinematic excellence.”

The film also clinched the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific) Award.

Best Actor Mikoy Morales of ‘Tether’

Dolly de Leon wins Best Supporting Actress for animated feature ‘Iti Mapukpukaw.’

The cast of ‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ receive the Balanghai trophy for Best Film. PHOTOS FROM CINEMALAYA

Pat Tingjuy cited Best Actress for ‘Rookie’

Meanwhile, its star Dolly de Leon received the Best Supporting Actress award. Portraying Rosalinda, the mother of Eric, the mouthless protagonist played by Carlo Aquino, she was recognized for her “pellucid performance of an affectionate mother helping her son confront the demons of his past.”

“Thank you so much. Wow, this is my first time to receive and speak for an award here in the Philippines. It feels good,” she said.

It was her second time to bag a local acting award after her FAMAS Best Supporting Actress win in 2020 for the film “Verdict.”

She gained international recognition for the Palme d'Or-winning “Triangle of Sadness” and became the first Filipino actor to be nominated for the BAFTAs and Golden Globe Awards.

Apart from “Iti Mapukpukaw,” de Leon also starred in another entry “Ang Duyan ng Magiting” which won the Special Jury Prize and Special Award for Best Ensemble Acting.

Best Short Film, on the other hand, was awarded to “Sibuyas ni Perfecto (Perfecto's Onion)” for its “quiet but coruscating take on social inequity and how the poor's exploitation by the rich is driven by their own denigration and self-abasement.”

Best Director Balanghai trophies went to filmmakers Ryan Espinosa Machado for his full-length feature “Huling Palabas” and Mike Cabarles for his short feature “Makoko Sa Baybay.”

Jopy Arnaldo of full-length feature “Gitling” and Arvin Belarmino of short feature “Hinakdal,” also a NETPAC award winning film, received the Best Screenplay awards.

Mikoy Morales and Pat Tingjuy were cited for their Best Performance of An Actor and An Actress, respectively. Morales won the jury's nod for “his compelling performance of a charming but predatory womanizer who gets his just desserts” in the film “Tether.” Tingjuy, on the other hand, won the award for “her refreshing portrayal of a young girl coming to terms with her sexual identity as she comes of age in the exciting world of volleyball.”

Bon Andrew Lentejas won the Best Supporting Actor for “Huling Palabas.”

The other awards were:

Audience Choice Award: “Rookie” directed by Samantha Lee for full-length feature and “Hinakdal” directed by Arvin Belarmino for short feature

Best Editing: Ilsa Malsi for “Rookie.”

Best Cinematography: Martika Escobar for “When This Is All Over.”

Best Original Musical Score: “Kindred,” composed of Justin Punzalan, Vince Dalida, Luis Montales, Jaime San Juan, Moses Webb, Fern Tan, Jorge Juan Wieneke V and Othello Intia for “When This Is All Over.”

Best Production Design: Kaye Banaag for “When This Is All Over.”

Best Sound Design: Gian Arre for “Tether.”

Special Jury Award: “HM HM MHM” short feature directed by Sam Villa-real and Kim Timan.