The awards night of the 2nd To Farm Film Festival somewhat became a platform to bring up a controversy involving the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Real-life couple Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana served as the hosts of the awarding ceremony held earlier tonight, July at Makati Shangrila Hotel.
When producer Shandii Bacolod accepted the award for What Home Feels Like, he addressed To Farm festival director Maryo J. Delos Reyes.
"The last time I received an award sa isang film festival, binawi ang award. Sana Direk Maryo wala nang bawian to ha. Maganda ang award na ito ha," said Shandii who was referring to the controversy involving his past MMFF 2016 entry.
It will be recalled the Shandii produced the entry Oro that initially won the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence.
However because of the dog-slaughter controversy, the MMFF Execom withdrew the award because of the alleged violation of Republic Act No. 8485 o Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
This year's jury for To Farm was composed of veteran actor Christopher De Leon, award-winning film and TV actress & director Laurice Guillen, Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino member Mario Hernando, award-winning musical director Lutgardo Labad, and master film editor Jess Navarro.
They selected the winners from 6 entries this year: Topel Lee's Baklad, Tara Illenberger's High Tide, Jason Paul Laxamana's Instalado, Victor Acedilo Jr.'s Kamunggai (Malunggay), Byron Brant's Sinandomeng, and Joseph Abello's What Home Feels Like.
Direk Tara's High Tide won as Best Picture and got the P500,000 cash prize.
Here are the winners of the To Farm Film Fest 2017:
Best Picture: High Tide (Tara Illenberger)
Best Actor: Bembol Roco (What Home Feels Like) and Roger "Soe" Gonzales (Kamunggai)
Best Actress: Irma Adlawan (What Home Feels Like)
Best Supporting Actor: Francis Magundayao (Instalado)
Best Supporting Actress: Barbara Miguel (Instalado)
Best Sound: Instalado (WildSound)
Best Music: What Home Feels Like (Harold Nagai and Harold Andre Cruz Santos)
Best Production Design: Instalado (Mark Sabas)
Best Editing: High Tide (Michael Bayan Canino & Tara Illenberger)
Best Cinematography: High Tide (TM Malones)
Best Story: What Home Feels Like (Joseph Abello)
Best Screenplay: What Home Feels Like (Joseph Abello)
People's Choice Award: Instalado
Jury Special Award: Cristine Mary Demaisip, Riena Christal Shin and Forrest Kyle Buscado (children of High Tide)