"It took us four hours to deliberate this year. We did not fight, it's only because we discussed the films very seriously," said Max Tessier to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) right after the awarding ceremony of Cinemalaya held last July 20. This is the second time that the French critic has been included in the jury of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival competition.

The chairman of the five-panel jury of Cinemalaya 2008 revealed that he and the other members unanimously decided to give the Best Film Award to Jay in the full-length category.

The movie directed by Francis Xavier Pasion won "for its sheer originality, its energetic storytelling, its mastery of digital technology in order to tell a story that is a trenchant commentary on the technology itself, and its very revealing take on the media and the uses and abuses of the truth..." Aside from earning the Best Actor plum for Baron Geisler, it also won for Best Editing.

Jay, which was shot in Bacolor, Pampanga, tells the story of Jay Mercado, a homosexual teacher who was brutally murdered in his home. Jay Santiago (played by Baron) produces a documentary on the slain teacher and helps bring the criminal to justice.

When Baron received the Best Actor award, he tearfully thanked the people who reserved judgment on him. "Para sa lahat ng mga naglaan ng pawis, panahon at pagmamahal para magawa ang pelikulang ito. Para sa lahat ng mga nanood, sumuporta, at hindi humusga. Para sa mga tunay na kaibigan ko, sa pamilya ko at amang Diyos natin...mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino!"

The other jury members who selected this year's winners were film actor Cesar Montano; film critic and writer Lito Zulueta; Ansgar Vogt, Berlin International Film Festival programmer; and Kim Ji-Seok, co-founder and program director of the Pusan International Film Festival.

Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition with the objective of discovering, encouraging and honoring the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.

Cinemalaya 2008 winners

Best Film: Jay

Special Jury Award: Brutus for depicting culture collisions in the context of environmental exploitation

Best Director: Chris Martinez for 100

Best Actress: Mylene Dizon for 100

Best Actor: Baron Geisler for Jay

Best Supporting Actress: Eugene Domingo for 100

Best Supporting Actor: Yul Servo for Brutus