Zamboanga Film Festival 2018 Winners

In celebration of the 81st Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga, the City Government once again hosted the Zamboanga Film Festival. Now on its third year, #ZFF2018 selected 20 short films produced by Zamboangueño filmmakers and animators. The finalists composed of 10 live action short films and 10 animated shorts (Click here for the list of short film finalists). The films were screened at Centro Latino Theater, Paseo del Mar, from February 19 to 23 which was watched by high schools and colleges in the city. The awards night was held on February 25, 7PM at Centro Latino main hall.



Here are the list of nominees and winners of the Zamboanga Film Festival 2018:

Best Screenplay (Live Action):
- Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Eljay Deldoc (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer (Bardusa)
- Robi Brian Kang (Loop)
- WINNER: Diserie Dawn Vergara (Manchao)

A last full show was held at the Centro Latino main hall before the Grand Awards Night

Best Original Story (Animation):
- Frantz Merrill Sucro, Kendrick Fernandez, Joshua Adonai Diaz, Lorenzo Emerson Yagong (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- WINNER: Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras, Carl Venzon Zarraga, Dariel Dryan Tadus (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)

Best Cinematography (Live Action):
- WINNER: Mohammad Sarajan (Esta)
- John Renzo Wee (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Simon Alvarez (Manchao)
- Lawrence Agustin (Bardusa)
- Micaella Marie R. Ruste & Chelsea Gregorio (Ocaso)

Best CINEMATOGRAPHY (Animation)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Joshua Adonai Diaz (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)

Kendrick Fernandez, director/animator of Peste, won Best Animator, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Viewers' Choice Award

Best Editing (Live Action):
- Nathalie Enriquez (Manchao)
- WINNER: Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Kim Tayona & John Renzo Wee (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer & Lawrence Agustin (Bardusa)
- Tennyl Dehm Canlas (Globo)

Best Editing (Animation):
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras & Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)

Best Production Design (Live Action):
- Fahda Hassan (Bardusa)
- Dexter Luaya (Manchao)
- Chelsea Gregorio (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Chelsea Gregorio (Ocaso)
- WINNER: Shekinah Benitez (Esta)

Shekinah Benitez, director of Esta (Stay) received four awards: Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Culture-Senstive Film

Best Visual Effects (Animation):
- WINNER: Hazel Rosie Bayaras & Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Khaled Majid (Cast)
- Dariel Dryan Tadus (With Colors)

Best Culture-Sensitive Film(Live Action):
- Bardusa by Khadija Ahamed Kabeer
- Manchao by Jonathan Alandahao
- WINNER: Esta by Shekinah Benitez
- Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo by Kim Tayona
- Silip by Robi Brian Kang

Best Culture-Sensitive Film (Animation):
- Fuego (Fire) by Ian Kenneth Barade
- Si Ongka, El Aspin by Frantz Merrill Sucro
- Behind Closed Doors by Jorzheema Hamid
- Is It My Turn? By Joshua Nacionales
- WINNER: Peacekeeper by Joshua Dela Cruz

Best Character Design (Animation):
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Hazel Rosie Bayaras, Carl Venzon Zarraga, Dariel Dryan Tadus (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Joshua Nacionales (Is it my turn?)

Best Actress (Live Action):
- Angel Ridette Cenas as “Mae” (Esta)
- WINNER: Laila Ulao as “Sara” (Bardusa)
- Aemjay Sainty Albano as “Kris”(Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Eycle Pansensyo as “Jade” (Silip)

Best Supporting Actress (Special Jury Citation):
- Ma. Zidamar Caranay Raper as "Sara's Mother" (Bardusa)

Best Animator (Animation):
- Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- WINNER: Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Joshua Adonai Diaz (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Megan Dayak  (Karoshi)
- Joshua Nacionales (Is it my turn?)
- Carl Venzon Zarraga (The Promise)

Best Actor (Live Action):
- Ramli Tiblani Abdurahim (Bardusa)
- John Mark Resurreccion (Manchao)
- WINNER: Kiko Miranda as “France” (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)

Kiko Miranda won Best Actor for his performance in the live action short film "Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo" by Kim Tayona

Best Director (Live Action):
- Micaella Marie Ruste (Ocaso)
- Kim Tayona (Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo)
- Shekinah Benitez (Esta)
- Khadija Ahamed Kabeer (Bardusa)
- WINNER: Jhonathan Alandahao (Manchao)

First-time director, Jhonathan Andalahao, was awarded Best Director for his live action short "Manchao" which also won Best Screenplay and Best Film.

Best Director (Animation):
- WINNER: Joshua Dela Cruz (Peacekeeper)
- Kendrick Fernandez (Peste)
- Frantz Merrill Sucro (Si Ongka, El Aspin)
- Hazel Rosie Bayaras (The Promise)
- Megan Dayak (Karoshi)

Viewer's Choice Award (Live Action):
- Pag-ibig lang ang Meron Tayo by Kim Tayona

Viewer's Choice Award (Animation):
- Peste by Kendrick Fernandez

Best Film (Animation):
- Manchao by Jhonathan Alandahao

Best Film (Animation):
- Peacekeeper by Joshua Dela Cruz

Joshua dela Cruz, director/animator of Peacemaker, won Best Director, Best Original Story, Best Culture-Sensitive Film and the Grand Prize - Best Film (Animation Category)
  Cast and crew of Grand Prize Winner - Best Film (Live Action Category), Manchao by Jhonathan Andalahao

Congratulations to all nominees and awardees! Happy Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga! #ZFF2018 #DiaDeZamboanga #iLoveZamboangaCity