No Best Actress winner in Cinema One Digital Filmfest

THE CINEMA ONE Digital Filmfest awards night was held at Dolphy Theatre on Sunday night and “Layang Bilanggo” won the best picture award. This is written and directed by UST graduate Mike Dagnalan who has won many awards for his short films “Karoler” and “River of Dreams”. “Layang Bilanggo” is about an aging convict and assassin (Pen Medina) who is on the run and seeks refuge in a home for the aged where the daughter (Miriam Quiambao) he abandoned years ago now works. This domestic drama also won the best actor award for Pen Medina.

Named best supporting actress is Jodi Sta. Maria for her role as Sam Milby’s love interest in “Third World Happy”. Jodi Maria is also seen in Chassis where she portrays her most daring role.

Best supporting actor is Marc Abaya (the rocker son of Director Marilou Abaya who’s now also into acting) as Pido in the horror film about cannibalism, “Dagim”. Winner of the special jury prize is the Cebuano film, “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Kirchbaum”, about a mail order bride.

Unfortunately, no one won the best actress award. The jurors felt no one deserves it. Too bad. Dimples Romana plays a good role in “Tsardyer” as the kidnapped TV reporter ala-Ces Drilon, but she’s wasted in a film with good intentions but badly executed. Miriam also plays a good role as the daughter in “Layang Bilanggo” but a lot of those who’ve seen it feel her wooden performance actually detracts from the film’s merits. “Siyang nakasira dun,” they say. “Actually, siya ang mas bagay sa TV reporter role in ‘Tsardyer’ at si Dimples sana ang ginawang anak ni Pen Medina in ‘Layang Bilanggo’. She would have done wonders with it.”