Without a doubt, the year 2020 and this pandemic have forever changed our way of life. Who would have thought that we would reach this situation wherein most cinemas are still closed, we cannot roam around our favorite malls, or even leave our house without fear?

Glenn Barit’s “Cleaners” is the biggest winner of #PPP4SamaAll Awards Night, taking home six awards out of 10 nominations — Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Special Citation for Ensemble Performance, Best Production Design, and Best Musical Score PHOTO COURTESY OF ‘CLEANERS’

One of the hardest-hit sectors in the country is the film industry that bears the brunt of the Covid-19 crisis to this day — a lot of film workers still do not have jobs. And if there is work, the struggle to comply with health and safety protocols exposes the workers to everyday hazards. Meanwhile, producers are looking for platforms to screen their new films.

Gold Azeron from “Metamorphosis” wins Best Actor. PHOTO COURTESY OF ‘METAMORPHOSIS’

But despite the struggle to sustain and adapt, our industry did not waver in creating Filipino films that audiences have continued to patronize through various streaming platforms, like the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s very own.

Drawing to a close today, FDCP’s 4th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) has entertained and inspired Filipinos since October 31. FDCP tapped into digital streaming in order to push through with PPP4. Thus, this year saw the unique virtual journey of the fourth edition of PPP as it adapted and evolved to become the #SamaAll film festival experience for everyone.

Elijah Canlas from “He Who Is Without Sin” bags the Special Jury Prize for Performance in a Lead Role PHOTO COURTESY OF ‘HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN’

This year’s theme is #PPP4SamaAll and it pushed PPP to be a platform that gathers everyone in the name of solidarity for Philippine Cinema. PPP has become a symbolic and unifying event to continuously engage our audiences and encourage support to the industry.

With a lineup of 170 films composed of 80 short films and 90 full-length films, 32 virtual events, 8,000 subscribers, and 64 partners, we at the FDCP are proud to have successfully brought to our audience Filipino films — from different genres and regions from all over the Philippines — online.

We launched the FDCP Channel, home of the PPP4, and offered novel ways of watching, appreciating, and valuing Filipino films. Hopefully, it will serve as a home, too, for more film festivals looking for a wider audience.

A lot may have changed, but the beauty and quality of films in PPP remain the same. And this has led cineastes to enjoy the PPP4 lineup from the comforts of their homes. They surely did “PPP and Chill” as they binge-watched in order to view all, if not, most of the films included in the festival.

Such support from the PPP community is so overwhelming, and we thank everyone for being one with the FDCP in helping all participating producers in PPP4, especially our independent filmmakers. Even as we shifted to an online platform, the audience did not hesitate in joining in the PPP community to show appreciation for Philippine Cinema.

Awards Night winners

Yesterday, the virtual #PPP4SamaAll Awards Night was held to celebrate the PPP Premium Selection films in competition and recognize the hardworking individuals in front of and behind the camera. I am so proud of the inspiration and hope they have given us as they continue to create and build worlds and narratives through their films.

All of the Premium Selection films were notable, and truth be told, the PPP Jury had a very difficult time in choosing the awardees. Deliberations took almost 10 consecutive hours as the jury members meticulously went through all the nominees in order to select the most deserving recipients of recognitions. The deliberations were tough and thorough, and I would like to say that all nominees are already winners in our book.

“Cleaners” by Glenn Barit came through with flying colors, taking home six awards out of 10 nominations: Best Picture, Best Director for Barit, Best Supporting Actress for Gianne Rivera, Special Citation for Ensemble Performance for Leomar Baloran, Julian Narag, and Carlo Mejia, Best Production Design for Alvin Francisco, and Best Musical Score for Barit.

“Metamorphosis” by J.E. Tiglao was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Film, Hana Kino from “Come On, Irene” was the Best Actress, Gold Azeron from “Metamorphosis” won for Best Actor, Elijah Canlas from “He Who Is Without Sin” was given the Special Jury Prize for Performance in a Lead Role, and Henyo Ehem from “The Highest Peak” was Best Supporting Actor.

Best Screenplay went to Jason Paul Laxamana for “He Who Is Without Sin,” Best Cinematography was bagged by Emmanuel Liwanag for “He Who Is Without Sin,” Best Editing was won by Lawrence Fajardo for “Kintsugi,” and Best Sound Design was awarded to Arbi Barbarona for “The Highest Peak.”

Nine out of the 13 films from the Premium Selection Section were considered for the #PPP4SamaAll Awards Night nominations as they were the ones that had limited releases in the country or had Philippine premieres at PPP4.

These are “Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids” by Vincent Soberano, “Cleaners” by Barit, “Come On, Irene” by Keisuke Yoshida, “He Who Is Without Sin” by Laxamana, “Kintsugi” by Fajardo, “Metamorphosis” by Tiglao, “Sila-Sila” by Giancarlo Abrahan, “The Helper” by Joanna Bowers, and “The Highest Peak” by Barbarona.

The other Premium Selection titles, meanwhile, were non-competition films. “Ang Lakaran ni Kabunyan: Kabunyan’s Journey to Liwanag” by National Artist for Film Kidlat Tahimik was the opening film while “Batch ’81” by Mike de Leon, “Markova: Comfort Gay” by Gil Portes, and “Brutal” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya were restored titles.

The #PPP4SamaAll Awards Night, which featured musical performances by Raf Bernardino, Acel Bisa, Bayang Barrios and Naliyagan, Joey Ayala, Ice Seguerra, and Regine Velasquez, was a toast not just to the winners and nominees, but to all participants of the PPP4.

I fervently hope that the PPP4 filmmakers, as well as the rest of the industry, will continue to build on this momentum that places the spotlight on Philippine Cinema. Filipino films deserve their own space and platform in order to make known the voices and visions of our filmmakers. Thank you once again to everyone who supported this year’s virtual festival. Until the fifth edition of PPP in 2021, whether online, offline, or both!

Notes from the Chair is part of the Arts Awake section of The Sunday Times Magazine published by The Manila Times. Click HERE to view the article on The Manila Times website.