Garnering nine trophies from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), the period film Baler took home the lion's share of the honors given out last night, May 28, during the silver anniversary of the Star Awards for Movies.
Baler received major awards such as Movie of the Year, Mark Meily as Movie Director of the Year, Jericho Rosales as Movie Actor of the Year.
Megastar Sharon Cuneta, on the other hand, was hailed as the Movie Actress of the Year for her performance in Caregiver.
Two stars tied for the Movie Supporting Actor of the Year category: Emilio Garcia for Walang Kawala and German Moreno for Paupahan.
This is the second year in a row that Emilio has been named Movie Supporting Actor of the Year by the PMPC. Last year, he was recognized for his supporting role in Selda.
Another Walang Kawala star, Snooky Serna, bagged the award for Movie Supporting Actress of the Year.
For the digital film category, the big winner was the Cinema One Originals entry Yanggaw, with its four trophies; namely Digital Movie of the Year, Richard Somes as Digital Movie Director of the Year, Digital Movie Production Designer of the Year, and Digital Movie Cinematographer of the Year.
Two Special Awards were also given by the PMPC. First was the Ulirang Artista Award which was conferred to Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. And another special award which was given to the people involved in Himala, the Filipino film that won in the CNN poll for Best Asian Film of All Time.
Hosting the event were Ai-Ai delas Alas, Maricel Soriano, and Cesar Montano.
Some of the presenters that night were Richard Gomez (who announced Sharon Cuneta as the Movie Star of the Year), Helen Gamboa, Yul Servo, Baron Geisler, and JC Tiuseco, among others.
Special guests performers were Toni Gonzaga, Ronnie Liang, and Jay-R Siaboc as well as Christopher de Leon who sang "Sinasamba Kita" for his perennial leading lady Vilma Santos. Sarah Geronimo, who was wearing a light purple gown by Rhett Eala, gave her passionate rendition of "Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan."
Here are the other winners of the 25th edition of the Star Awards for Movies:
Movie Child Performer of the Year: Julian Duque (Boses)
New Movie Actress of the Year: KC Concepcion (For the First Time)
New Movie Actor of the Year: Sherwin Ordonez (Kurap)
Movie Editor of the Year: Danny Anonuevo (Baler)
Digital Movie Editor of the Year: Francis Xavier Pasion, Kats Serraon, and Chuck Gutierrez (Jay)
Movie Original Screenplay of the Year: Roy Iglesias (Baler)
Digital Movie Original Screenplay of the Year: Dennis Evangelista (Paupahan)
Movie Cinematographer of the Year: Lee Meily (Baler)
Movie Musical Scorer of the Year: Jessie Lasaten (Ploning)
Digital Movie Musical Scorer of the Year: Jourdann Petalver (Boses)
Movie Sound Engineer of the Year: Ditoy Aguila (Baler)
Digital Movie Sound Engineer of the Year: Jethro Joaquin and Ronald de Asis (Concerto)
Movie Original Theme Song of the Year: "Ngayon, Bukas at Kailanman" (Baler)
Digital Movie Theme Song of the Year: "Sangandaan" (Paupahan)
Newsmaker of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
Darling of the Press: Herbert Bautista
Award for Cinematic Excellence in Filipino Animation: Dayo (Cutting Edge Productions) and Urduja (APT Entertainment)
Male Star of the Night: John Lloyd Cruz
Female Star of the Night: Sarah Geronimo