Cinemalaya 2022: Tatler's Fearless Forecast of This Year's Full-Length Category Awardees

Thanks to respected music artists Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso, the rock-and-roll folks of fictional indie band Rebel Rebel were able to give us songs that play in our heads even after movie credits rolled. The songs "Lumisan" and "Unang Araw ng Pag-iisa" are deserving of the Best Original Music Score award.

More from Tatler: Are we Filipinos Because We Love Music, or Do We Love Music Because We are Filipinos?

Update: Isha Abubakar wins Best Original Music Score for Retirada

Carlo Obispo's The Baseball Player takes us to the vast fields of Mindanao where armed conflicts ruin the basic necessities of life. In this modern melodrama, the director gives us a piece of the Philippines' picturesque mountains. 

Update: Neil Daza takes Best Cinematography award for Blue Room. The Baseball Player takes Best Full-Length film award.

Drunk teenagers, corrupt police officials—the screenplay written by Siege Ledesma and Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan induced fear that transcends the big screen. Based on true life events, the writers were able to put together lines that expose the grim reality of the Filipino justice system.

Tatler Trivia: Blue Room screenplay writer and director Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan trained under National Artist Ricky Lee and Armando Lao for scriptwriting. 

Anna Isabelle Matutina's 12 Weeks is a painful reminder of the everyday woes and violence casually experienced by women (even those who firmly believe in feminist ideologies). The movie follows the story of 40-year-old Alice who ends her relationship with Ben, her toxic boyfriend. Days after their relationship ended, Alice discovers she is pregnant. With her age and current relationship status, her first instinct is to have the pregnancy terminated. As her body undergoes dramatic changes, Alice struggles and needs to decide what to do. 

Tatler Trivia:  Anna Isabelle Matutina works as a director and editor for the documentary program I-Witness; 12 Weeks is her first feature-length film. It has participated in the Bangkok Asean Film Festival’s first edition of the Southeast Asian Project Pitch (SEAPITCH).

Update: The Best Screenplay award goes to Carlo Obispo for The Baseball Player.

Bon Lentejas did not have too many lines in Blue Room, but his character, "Nog," expressed emotions loud enough to earn the sympathy of the audience. 

Read also: 7 Underrated Filipino Films to Watch This Valentine's Day 2022

Update: Soliman Cruz takes Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Blue Room.

Claudia Enriquez made an impressive best friend to the film's protagonist Alice (portrayed by Max Eigenmann). Her character, Lorna, was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the film, something that brought colour to the plot. 

In 12 Weeks, a single, 40-year-old woman discovers she is pregnant after breaking up with her boyfriend and must decide whether she wants to be a mother or not.

Update: The Best Supporting Actress award goes to Ruby Ruiz for her role in Ginhawa.

Although Kaluskos was a bit underwhelming as a movie that branded itself as a "feminist" story, its protagonist, Coleen Garcia, definitely showed the audience an unforgettable performance as a slightly deranged mother who fights for the sole custody of her young daughter. Amid the custody battle, Rebekah finds another “Amaya” under the bed. When the other Amaya emerges, Rebekah feels the motherly connection that she lost with her daughter. The other Amaya insists that she is the real Amaya trapped under the bed because of a curse, and the other one is the impostor. Wanting to start a new life with the other Amaya, Rebekah seeks to set her free. But to do that, she needs to kill the impostor.

Another actress worthy of the award is Meryll Soriano for her role "Ditay" in Rainero C. Yamson II's Angkas. In the movie, Soriano is a corpse who, from time to time, comes to life to bring in important and progressive dialogues. 

Tatler Trivia: Angkas is inspired by a documentary by Arbi Barbarona about a habal habal driver from Compostela Valley who picks up dead bodies using his motorcycle. 

Update: The Best Actress Award goes to Max Eigennman for her role "Alice" in 12 Weeks.

Filmmakers Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan and Carlo Obispo stayed true to this year's theme Breaking Through The Noise. Dagñalan's film, Blue Room, shed a light on police corruption, flawed justice systems, and human rights abuses in the Philippines. 

Obispo's The Baseball Player, on the other hand, is a heart-warming masterpiece that slowly progresses into a devastating nightmare. The movie was successful in its goal to raise awareness without being too over the top in disseminating information. 

Read more: Groundbreaking Filipino Films on LGBTQ+ Stories

Update: Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan bags Best Director award.

The Baseball Player is about a Moro child soldier who aspires to become a baseball player amidst an all-out war. Amir, a 17-year-old Moro child soldier whose father was killed in an all-out war in 2000, dreams to live a different life – he wants to become a baseball player. Training extensively with his coach, he makes it to the final tryout of a local university. Unfortunately, another all-out war against Moro rebels breaks out in 2003, and he is confronted with making a choice between pursuing his dream or fighting in the war.

Blue Room follows Rebel Rebel, an indie rock band composed of woke albeit sheltered teens, gets its biggest break at a prestigious local music festival. But after their celebratory night at the local bar, they are arrested for drug possession. Instead of the standard procedures, they were hauled to the Blue Room, a VIP detention area where they can bribe their way out through rogue cops. The band members have to decide whether to use their privilege to go on with their lives or to own up to what they had been preaching.

Update: The Best Film recognition goes to Carlo Obispo's The Baseball Player.

On August 11, 2022, Thursday, the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP) announced that Blue Room is among its box office hits together with Real Florido's Bakit 'Di Mo Sabihin, Milo Alto Paz, Cynthia Cruz-Paz's Retirada and the short feature films in 'Shorts B'.

Update: The Audience Choice award goes to Kargo by TM Malones.

The Cinemalaya Awards Night will be held on August 14, 2022, 6:15 PM, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theatre). 

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