Cherie Gil joked about quitting showbiz when she accepted a trophy on behalf of her mother, Rosemarie Gil.

The matriarch of the Eigenmann family was hailed as Best Actress for her Cine Filipino 2018 entry Delia & Sammy.

This project marked the movie comeback of Rosemarie after 15 years.

During the awards night held recently at the KIA Theater, Cherie was almost moved to tears and she quipped, "Why am I getting so emotional?! And I'm just a copycat.”

Cherie said she has been in the entertainment industry for 40 years already but she admitted that she thought about quitting showbiz in the past.

"Many times I said I'm gonna throw in the towel but mom disappeared.

"Maybe I should disappear for a while so I could win! Hahaha!"

Jaime Fabregas, who played Rosemarie's husband in Delia & Sammy, also got the highest acting award that night.

"This is my first Best Actor award, and it’s probably going to be my last,” Jaime told the crowd before he brought out his prepared speech.

Aside from Delia & Sammy by Theresa Cayaba, the other entries of the third edition of Cine Filipino were: Excuse Me Po by Ronald Espinosa Batallones, Gusto Kita With All My Hypothalamus by Dwein Baltazar, Hitboy by Bor Ocampo, Mata Tapang by Rod Marmol, Mga Mister ni Rosario by Allan Habon, Poon by Ronie Supangan, and The Eternity Between Seconds by Alec Figuracion.

In the past, the Cine Filipino Film Fest was held every two years. During the awarding ceremony of the third edition, it was revealed that Cine Filipino will be an annual film fest starting in 2019.

Here is the list of winners of the 3rd Cine Filipino Film Fest:

Best Film: The Eternity Between Seconds

2nd Best Film: Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

3rd Best Film: Delia & Sammy

Best Director: Alec Figuracion, The Eternity Between Seconds

Best Actress: Rosemarie Gil, Delia & Sammy

Best Actor: Jaime Fabregas, Delia & Sammy

Best Esemble: Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

Best Supporting Actress: Ritz Azul, Mata Tapang

Best Supporting Actor: Nico Antonio, Delia & Sammy

Best Screenplay: Mga Mister ni Rosario

Best Cinematography: The Eternity Between Seconds

Best Production Design: Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

Best Editing: The Eternity Between Seconds

Best Musical Score: Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

Best Sound Design: The Eternity Between Seconds

Short Features (Open Category)

Best Film: Gabi ng Kababalaghan

1st Runner-up Film: Siyudad sa Bulawan

Short Features (Student)

Best Film: Santa Nena by Tim Rone Villanueva of DLS College of St Benilde

1st Runner-up Film: Mark and Lenny by Gio Potes of UP Diliman

Supershorts Best Film: Orlie by Lino Balmes

1st runner-up: Bente Kwatro Awras by Eunice Maximo

When Cherie accepted the trophy on behalf of her mother, Rosemarie Gil, she said, "My mother has spent almost her entire life in this industry and I wanted her to win so bad!

"That's why I'm here tonight because I feel responsible. This is more special than any other nomination I have received because this woman, I have looked up to, gained strength from following her path."

Cherie also looked back on the past achievement of her mother Rosemarie.

"She received a Best Supporting Actress award in 1986 for Burlesk Queen and then she disappeared."

She said her mother had doubts about accepting the role of an aging actress in Delia & Sammy. Cherie recalled, "My brother Michael and I told her, 'you got to do it.' She did it with a lot of doubt, not sure if she still had it. I needed to accept this and tell her, 'Mommy, I'm on the third chapter and you got to believe that if you are true to your passion and your calling, some amazing things still can happen.'"

To end her speech, Cherie said gleefully, "Mom, come home. More films for you!"

Cherie disclosed that the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is working on a new film fest called Cine Marya, which is a film fest for women.

"FDCP is granting 10 short films for women to write women-centered films to empower and make gender-sensatization as a way of life for Filipinos."

Jaime Fabregas told audiences, "This is my first Best Actor award and it's probably my last, so indulge me I want to read something I wrote this afternoon, just in case. Joke!

"Naniniwala akong ang tunay na responsibilidad ng isang nasa sining...ay ang pairalin ang katotohanan.

"I want to share this award with all my co-truth seekers."




TJ Trinidad and Yeng Constantino top-billed The Eternity Between Seconds, which is about two people who met in an airport in South Korea by chance.

Jose Javier "Joey" Reyes served as the head of competition of Cine Filipino 2018 while Madonna Tarrayo served as the festival director. 



* All photos by Allan Sancon

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