'Green Bones' biggest winner at 50th MMFF

"GREEN Bones," produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, was the top winner at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), clinching the Best Picture award during the Gabi ng Parangal on Friday night at Solaire Resort in Parañaque City.

The film's stars also received top honors, with Dennis Trillo named Best Actor and Ruru Madrid taking home the Best Supporting Actor award. Its young star Sienna Stevens won Best Child Performer, while National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza received the Best Screenplay award. Best Actor Dennis Trillo of 'Green Bones' PHOTOS FROM FACEBOOK/MMFF OFFICIAL

In their acceptance speech, Annette Gozon-Valdes, president of GMA Pictures, shared the award with the other nine films. "To make a film takes blood, sweat, tears and resources and we really risked it all because we want to tell a story. And I hope that people listen to these wonderful, outstanding stories of these movies in this year's MMFF."

Producer Nessa Valdellon added: "This is historic for us, this is a very big thing for GMA Pictures. It was really our aim to bring back the glory of the film studio. Twenty-five years ago, we won for 'Muro-Ami,' 26 years ago for 'Jose Rizal' and that was back-to-back, and this is back-to-back with 'Firefly' and 'Green Bones.'"

The 2nd Best Picture went to "The Kingdom," "My Future You" as 3rd Best Picture, while the 4th Best Picture was won by "Isang Himala."

With a tight list of nominees, Judy Ann Santos of horror film "Espantaho" took home the Best Actress Award. This makes her a three-time MMFF Best Actress awardee after comedy film "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" (2006) and drama film "Mindanao" (2019).

For this year's edition, she bested other nominees namely Aicelle Santos of "Isang Himala," Francine Diaz of "My Future You," Jane de Leon of " Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital," Julia Montes of "Topakk," and Vilma Santos of "Uninvited."

"To everyone involved in the MMFF, with 10 amazing films, we are all already winners. Of course, this award is for my inspiration, my life, my rock — my husband Ryan; to my three beautiful children, Yohan, Lucho, and Luna; to my mom, my brother, and my sister; and to dear Lord, thank You. I never thought I'd make it back here again. To all my fellow nominees, this is for all of us. To God be the glory. Long live Philippine cinema!" Santos said in her speech. Best Actress Judy Ann Santos of 'Espantaho'

For the Best Director award, it was a tie for Crisanto Aquino of "My Future You" and Michael Tuviera of "The Kingdom."

During the awards night, there was a collective appeal for more theaters to screen the featured films.

Pepe Diokno, director of musical film "Isang Himala," took to Twitter on Friday before the awards night sharing the "heartbreaking" news that their film was down to nine cinemas. He appealed to the public to watch it "before it's too late."

Accepting the 4th Best Picture award for "Isang Himala" Diokno said in his speech, "Let's celebrate the brilliance and talent of Filipinos. To our audience, we hope you'll give a chance to a beautiful musical written by Sir Ricky Lee with music by Vincent de Jesus. It's a film that reflects our nation — a musical that will break us and put us back together again. Please give us a chance this weekend and watch the film 'Isang Himala.'" 'Green Bones' team accepts the Best Picture award. PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/MMFF OFFICIAL

The complete list of major winners are: Best Picture: "Green Bones;" 2nd Best Picture: "The Kingdom;" 3rd Best Picture: "My Future You;" 4th Best Picture: "Isang Himala;" Best Director: Crisanto Aquino ("My Future You") and Michael Tuviera of ("The Kingdom"); Best Actress: Judy Ann Santos ("Espantaho"); Best Actor: Dennis Trillo ("Green Bones"); Best Screenplay: Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza ("Green Bones"); Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid ("Green Bones"); Best Supporting Actress: Kakki Teodoro ("Isang Himala"); Best Production Design: Neil Abrogena ("The Kingdom"); and Best Cinematography: Neil Daza ("Green Bones").

Best Editing goes to Vanessa Ubas-de Leon ("My Future You"); Best Original Theme Song: "Ang Himala ay nasa Puso" by Juan Karlos written by Vincent de Jesus and Ricky Lee ("Isang Himala"); Best Sound: Ditoy Aguila ("Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital"); Best Musical Score: Vincent de Jesus ("Isang Himala"); Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens ("Green Bones"); Best Visual Effects: "The Kingdom;" and Best Student Short Film: "Saan Aabot ang 50 Pesos mo?" (University of Makati).

The Special Awards are as follows: Special Jury Award: "Topakk" and "Isang Himala;" Special Jury Citation: Vice Ganda ("And the Breadwinner Is..."); Breakthrough Performance: Seth Fedelin ("My Future You"); Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Excellence Award: "Topakk;" Gat Puno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: "The Kingdom;" Gender Sensitivity Award: "And the Breadwinner Is...;" Lifetime Achievement Award: Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada; and Best Float: "Uninvited" and "Topakk."

This year's 10 films are "The Kingdom," "Topakk," "Uninvited," "Isang Himala," "Hold Me Close," "Espantaho," "My Future You," "And The Breadwinner Is...," "Green Bones," and "Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital."

The 50th Gabi ng Parangal was hosted by Robi Domingo, Gabbi Garcia, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Tim Yap. Broadway and West End star Rachelle Ann Go opened the night with a soulful performance.