Last August 7, the Film Desk of the Young Critics Circle
honored the winners for the 18th Annual Circle Citations (YCC Awards) for
Distinguished Achievement in Film for 2007. The awarding ceremony took place at
the Pulungang Recto of Bulwagang Rizal (Faculty Center Conference Hall) in the
University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Established in 1990, YCC is the academe-based critics group with members coming
from various disciplines. Through the years, they have become attentive
observers of Philippine cinema constantly bringing into the analysis of film an
interdisciplinary approach.
Among those who attended were filmmakers Brillante "Dante" Mendoza, Jade Castro, and Nick Deocampo. The latter was chosen to give the keynote address-signaling the first time a filmmaker is handpicked for the pivotal task that has become an annual YCC tradition.
Direk Dante's Foster Child won Best Film and Best Screenplay while ufo Pictures' Endo won Best Editing, Best Sound and Aural Orchestration, and Best Performance for Jason Abalos. Death in the Land of Encantos, directed by Lav Diaz, garnered the Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design.
Star Magic talent Jason Abalos took the time to attend the awarding ceremony held in UP Diliman.
Here are the winners and nominees for this year's YCC film awards:
Best Film of the Year
Winner: Foster Child directed by Brillante Mendoza (Seiko Films; Robbie Tan, executive producer)
Nominee: Endo directed by Jade Francis Castro (ufo Pictures; Ned Trespeces, Michiko Yamamoto, Emmanuel de la Cruz and Raymond Lee, Producers)
Best Screenplay
Winner: Foster Child (Seiko Films) - Ralston Jover
Nominee: Endo (ufo Pictures) - Jade Francis Castro, Michiko Yamamoto and Raymond Lee
Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design
Winner: Death in the Land of Encantos (Sine Olivia) - Lav Diaz, Director of Photography; Dante Perez, Production Designer
Nominees:
Foster Child (Seiko Films) - Odyssey Flores, Director of Photography; Ben Padero, Production Designer
Still Life (Sining Ko Ito Productions) - Dan Villegas, Director of Photography; Cris Silva, Production Designer
Tirador (Centerstage) - Brillante Mendoza, Julius Villanueva, Jeffrey de la Cruz, Gary Tria, Directors of Photography; Deans Habal, Harley Alcasid, Production Designers
Best Achievement in Film Editing
Winner: Endo (ufo Pictures) - JD Domingo
Nominee: Tirador (Centerstage) - Charliebebs Gohetia
Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration
Winner: Endo (ufo Pictures) - Corinne de San Jose Cruz and Mark Locsin, Sound Engineers; Owel Alvero, Musical Director
Nominees:
Still Life (Sining Ko Ito Productions) - Joey Santos, Sound Engineer; Wincy Ong, Musical Director
Tirador (Centerstage) - Ditoy Aguila and Junel Valencia, Sound Engineers; Tere Barrozo, Musical Director
Best Performance by Male or Female, Adult or Child, Individual or Ensemble in Leading or Supporting Role
Winner: Jason Abalos in Endo (ufo Pictures)
Nominees:
Cherry Pie Picache in Foster Child (Seiko Films)
Eugene Domingo in Foster Child (Seiko Films)
Ron Capinding in Still Life (Sining Ko Ito Productions)