Alex Medina Disappointed When He Didn't Win As Best Actor In Cinemalaya For 'Babagwa'

ALEX MEDINA admits he somehow felt bad when he didn’t win as Cinemalaya best actor in the New Wave category for “Babagwa” since everyone says his performance as an internet scammer who falls for one of his victims was very effective. Now, the movie, which was the biggest box office hit in Cinemalaya last July, is about to get a wide theatrical release on September 18. It’s also being shown in competition in three international film festivals this coming October: Vancouver Filmfest in Canada, Warsaw Filmfest in Poland and Hawaii International Filmfest.

Representing the film in all these festivals is its writer-director, Jason Paul Laxamana. “One person lang kasi ang allowed na may free plane fare and accommodation in all these festivals kaya wala akong kasama kahit isang cast member,” he says.

Going back to Alex, he should not despair that he lost as Cinemalaya best actor as we’re sure he’ll be nominated again as best actor in other award-giving bodies next year. Two of his main rivals will be his own brothers, Ping Medina, who also excelled in “Transit”, and their eldest brother, Karl Medina, who stars in “The Guerilla Is a Poet”, the story of Joma Sison that’s part of the Cine Filipino Filmfest that also opens on September 18. After “Babagwa”, Alex will next be seen in the Cinema One filmfest entry, “Angustia”, where he plays a priest in Bicol who slowly loses his sanity, written and directed by new director Christian Cordero, a Palanca award-winner.