Winners for the 5th Montañosa Film Festival 2025 Film Competition were recognized during the “Panagdadayaw” at Baguio Country Club, March 30, highlighted by this year’s Best Film, “Ang Gadya Sang Suba” by Daniel Dela Cruz.
“This testifies that the best tool that we can have in creating film is not the latest camera, but a heartfelt story,” Dela Cruz stressed.
Filmmakers who used mobile phones for their films garnered major awards under the Mobile Category. These are: “Ang Gadya Sang Suba” by Daniel Dela Cruz, who received the gold award; “Kataw”, Ashley Manugas, Silver; and “Handom sa Natugbong Nga Yuta (Memories of the Collapsed Land)”, Aveguel Sinangote, Bronze.
Under the Documentary Category, these are: “Mama”, by Alexandra Brizuela, Gold; “Daíng (Woes)”, Jan Darryl Villafuerte, Silver; and “Woven Dreams”, Jhayzen Parañal, Bronze. Lastly, in the Narrative category there were two films that were awarded. These are; “Open Time”, Mark Moneda, Gold; and “Ang Huling Liham”, Miguel Potestades, Bronze.
Other major awards were given to films such as the Independent Spirit Award to the film “Sa Ilalim sa Balabal sa Alitaptap (Beneath The Firefly Veil)” by Juvy Ann Clarito; World Building Award “Cinebuano”, Joaquin Perocillo; and Best Emerging Cinema “Dakit (Boat)” by Francis A. Dumalig.
Kidlat Kapwa Awards were handed over to “Pagtaghoy sa Hangin” by Kyle Erika Saycon; “Silbi”, Danica Sy; “Los Mandayas”, Jhayzen Parañal; and “Bolilyo” by Patrick Nicolas Yacob.
Recognized for the ‘Pilik Ubbing’award are “Ang Gadya sa Suba”, Daniel Dela Cruz who garnered Gold award; “Nanlumos Akong Papa sa Sabaw”, JP Corton, Silver; and “Arapaap” by Zeus Batondo, Bronze.
The Sine Patok (Most Entertaining Film) was given to “Kita Mo’To?” by Jermaine Tulbo; Jury Citation for Narrative for “Conch” by Jermaine Tulbo and “Nanlumos Akong Papa sa Sabaw” by JP Corton; “Daisy” by Aditi Dixit, Pepot Atienza, and Shecid Domínguez Aguilera, Atimonan was also awarded the Jury Citation for Animation while Jury Citation for Best Ensemble was awarded to the film “Open Time” by Mark Moneda.
“Quitis” by Richard Marco Loor and ”Kita Mo’To” and Via Antonio were given Special Jury Citations for Best Performance; “Bugan”, Kun Ledesma-Lopez, Special Jury Citation for Animation; “Glitters”, Darryl Villafuerte, Special Jury Citation for Environmental Film; “Pers Taym”, Mark Bacuso Embong, Special Jury Citation for Regional Entry; “Ang Bayani at ang Kanyang Sandok”, Ellen Estrada, Special Jury Citation for Educational Documentary for Children; and “A Crab From a Conch Shell” by Jermaine Talbo, Special Jury for Direction.
Cinema Open’s Choice as a Minor Award was also given to “Voicemails for the Unknown Receiver” by Mario Cabus. This goes to any competition, non-competition, and any exhibition film in the festival deemed to have exemplified cinema’s high standards.
Also for Minor Awards, three films were created by different teams for the Creative Combat 2 Category: The Animation Film.
These films with 30-second trailers were pitched during the Montañosa Open Air Film Viewing including “Taraw” by Imaginara for the Gold award, composed of Baguio City National High School- Arts and Design Program students; “Sightseeing”, Team Turon, Silver Award, CSDA Illustration NC2 and Animation NC2 “Anya Ngay Balong (What’s Up Balong?)”, Team Anim Ators, Bronze Award, Trainees of the School of Digital Arts, Animation, Batch 2025.
Their works were recognized to encourage them to further continue their creative endeavors through storytelling so that people’s voices will be heard.**Normalyn B. Pacpaco/PIO Baguio intern/gk
