MANILA, 24 June – The box office top grossers emerged filmfest acting winners.
This year's Manila Film Festival made a first when it named the headliners of the top grossing films, Magkapatid and Diskarte, as the best actor and best actres, respectively.
"Megastar" Sharon Cuneta was adjudged best actress last night for her powerful performance as Dr. Cita Reyes in the dramatic opus, Magkapatid. Incidentally, the film is the MFF's topgrosser that also topbill Christopher de Leon, Judy Ann Santos and Dingdong Dantes.
Joel Lamangan took the best director trophy for the winning film.
Magkapatid was likewise honored as the best film, screenplay among others during the awards night held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium formerly Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Rudy Fernandez was voted best actor for Diskarte, an action film that delves on the story of ex military turned notorious gang. Veteran actor Joonee Gamboa took the best supporting actor trophy for the same film.
While veteran actress Gloria Romero won as best supporting actress for I Think I'm In Love, the first film of Joyce Jimenez and Piolo Pascual together.
Cuneta bested Elizabeth Oropesa who essayed another sterling performance as an aging pimp in Mamasan while Romero edged past Miss Saigon veteran Jenine Desiderio also for Mamasan.
According to sources, the unofficial standing of the box office tallies are as follows, Magkapatid, Diskarte, Super B, I Think I'm In Love, Mamasan and Utang ni Tatang.
The proceedings that lasted nearly five hours was criticized by movie actor Richard Gomez who commented it's just like a high school production work.
The night was a combination of show biz and politics with more politicians in attendance.
In a prepared speech, Cuneta spent 10 minutes thanking so many people and even announced her friendship with Judy Ann Santos.
The big winner of the evening was the city of Manila that made money out of the six films exhibited and the presentation of Manila as peaceful, orderly and clean.
