Snooky, Aiko and Tessie Tomas Vie for SBIFF Best Actress Award

by Zarianne E. Palma

 

VETERANS Tessie Tomas, Snooky Serna and Aiko Melendez are among the nominees for Best Actress in the 1st Subic Bay International Film Festival (SBIFF).

Tomas topbills “Old Skool” as an old woman who went back to school determined to finish 6th grade despite the odds, while Melendez, in “Balatkayo,” is an OFW in Singapore cheating on his husband who is himself having an extra-marital affair in Dubai, leaving their son in the Philippines astray and embroiled in a sex scandal.

Serna is a school janitress in “Isang Hakbang,” whose failing health sends her son as a substitute, triggering a chain of controversies, including child labor.

Also vying for best actress are Ruth Alferez from the film “Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” and Shirley Fuentes of “Rolyo.”

The festival proper will be on June 22-24, 2018 at Harbor Point Mall’s Cinema and the Awards Night will be on June 24 at the mall’s Activity Center.

The 6 films are competing for the Best Picture award along with the awards for Best in Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor, Best in Cinematography, Best in Music and Best in Production.

Competing for the SBIFF’s Best Director are Dominic Nuesa (Ang Araw sa Likod Mo), Joel Lamangan (Bhoy Instik), C.C. Woodruff Jr. (Rolyo), Cia Hermosa-Jorge “Old Skool,” Neil Tan (Balatkayo) and Mike Magat (Isang Hakbang).

In a tight competiton for Best Actor are Ping Medina and Mike Liwag (Ang Araw sa Likod Mo), Raymond Francisco (Bhoy Intsik), Buboy Villar, (Old Skool), Carlos Morales (Rolyo), Polo Ravales (Balatkayo) and Miguel Antonio (Isang Hakbang).

The nominees for Best in Screenplay are Ronald Carballo for “Bhoy Instik,” Jason Paul Laxamana for “Balatkayo,” Woody Woodruff for Rolyo, Dominic Nuesa for ”Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” Ray Allen for “Isang Hakbang” and Cia Hermosa-Jorge for “Old Skool”.

Nominated for Best in Cinematography are Ken Yamaguchi for “Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” AB Garcia for Old Skool, Rain Yamson II for “Bhoy Instik,” Gilbert Obispo for “Balatkayo,” Caloy Maglasang for “Rolyo” and Rav Allen for “Isang Hakbang”.

The Best in Music nominees are Isan Amane from “Ang Araw Sa Likod Mo,” Jake Abella for “Balatkayo,” Emerzon Texon for “Bhoy Instik,” Sherwin Castillo for “Rolyo,” Nonong Buencamino for “Old Skool,” and  Simeon Sam Madrid for “Isang Hakbang”.

For the Best in Production Design, the nominees are; Fritz Silorio for “Ang Araw sa Likod Mo,” Egar Littaua for “Bhoy Instik,” Cyruz Khan for “Balatkayo,” Roma Regala for “Old Skool” and Terrence Velarde for “Rolyo”.

The six [6] competing films will be screened at Harbor Point’s Cinema 1, Subic Bay Freeport on June 22-24, 2018. Admission is free. Details on screening hours may be known at the festival’s Facebook page Subic Bay International Film Festival.

The 1^st Subic Bay International Film Festival is spearheaded by Festival Directors Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr., a veteran journalist and businessman, and Arlyn Dela Cruz-Bernal, filmmaker cum journalist, with the aim of “Creating waves of possibilities and opportunities” for both aspiring and seasoned filmmakers. ###