Nora Aunor Wins Best Actress, Brillante Mendoza Best Director at 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2012

Philippine superstar Nora Aunor bagged the Best Actress trophy at the 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2012. Nora Aunor was recognized for her performance in the film Thy Womb (Sinapupunan).

The said award is a follow up APSA win for Nora Aunor as her film Himala was awarded the CNN APSA Viewers Choice Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time in 2008.

Meanwhile, Thy Womb director Brillante Mendoza also took pride for winning the Achievement in Directing (Best Director) category in the said annual awards. Thy Womb, which is now an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival has earned rave reviews from critics of the 2012 Venice International Film Festival.

Tepenin Ardi (Beyond the Hill, Turkey/Greece) was hailed as the Best Feature Film. while Choi Min-sik of South Korea won the Best Actor trophy for the film Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng (Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time). For the complete list of winners of APSA 2012, click here.

Aside from Aunor and Mendoza, Filipino screenwriter-director Chris Martinez (Here Comes The Bride) also got a nod from APSA and was nominated in the Best Screenplay category for Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank. Marlon Rivera, the director of the said film was awarded the APSA NETPAC award which comes with a film development cash prize of $5,000.

The sixth Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region’s highest accolade in film, was held on Friday night, November 23 at a glittering ceremony at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, Australia. The APSA ceremony was attended by more than 700 Australian and international guests and filmmakers from across Asia Pacific who are true leaders in their fields.

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.

6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2012 Winners

The sixth Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region’s highest accolade in film, was held on Friday night, November 23 at a glittering ceremony at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, Australia. The Philippines bagged two APSA Awards this year with Nora Aunor and Brillante Mendoza winning the Best Actress and Best Director trophies, respectively.

Here is the complete list of winners of the 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2012:

BEST FEATURE FILM
Beyond The Hill (Turkey, Greece)

Highly commended: Nameless Gangster: Rules Of The Time (Republic of Korea)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
In My Mother’s Arms (Iraq, UK, Netherlands)

Highly commended: Planet Of Snail (Republic of Korea, Japan, Finland)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
A Letter To Momo (Japan)

BEST CHILDREN’S FEATURE FILM
The Mirror Never Lies (Indonesia)

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Brillante Mendoza, Thy Womb (Philippines)

Highly commended: Cheng Er, Lethal Hostage (China)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Reis Çelik, Night Of Silence

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Touraj Aslani, Rhino Season (Iraqi-Kurdistan,Turkey)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR
Choi Min-sik, Nameless Gangster: Rules Of The Time

Highly commended: Lior Ashkenazi, Footnote (Israel)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS
Nora Aunor, Thy Womb

Highly commended: Darya Ekamasova, Once Upon A Time There Lived A Simple Woman (Russia)

SCREEN INTERNATIONAL JURY GRAND PRIZE
Anurag Kashyap for his direction of Gangs Of Wasseypur (India)
Cho Min-soo for her performance in Pieta (Korea)

Highly commended: Joseph Cedar for his screenplay for Footnote

UNESCO AWARD
Warriors Of The Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Taiwan), director Wei Te-sheng, producers John Woo, Terence Chang.

APSA FIAPF Award
Ryuichi Sakamoto, composer

The APSA ceremony was attended by more than 700 Australian and international guests and filmmakers from across Asia Pacific who are true leaders in their fields. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards recognize and promote the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia Pacific region.

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.

Thy Womb Now an Official MMFF 2012 Entry, Replaces 'Lola Basyang'

Brillante Mendoza's highly-acclaimed film Thy Womb (Sinapupunan) starring superstar Nora Aunor is now an official entry to the 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival replacing  Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang.

MMFF 2012 Committee decided to include Thy Womb to the official entries after Studio 5 and Unitel Pictures pulled out Lola Basyang due to production time constraints. Thy Womb will now compete against the other seven official entries to the MMFF 2012.

The MMFF special committee led by Jesse Ejercito was tasked to choose the replacement of Lola Basyang and Thy Womb was chosen out of the three films which ranked after Lola Basyang including Skylight Films' Tuhog and Adolf Alix Jr's My Prince Charming. The latter two films reportedly will not meet the deadline so Thy Womb was given the slot.

Thy Womb was screened at the Venice International Film Festival which gave Nora a Best Actress award from a group of critics. The film also gave Ate Guy and Direk Dante the Best Actress and Best Director nominations, respectively at the 2012 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, to which the winners will be announced in November 23.

Watch the MMFF 2012 trailer of Thy Womb:

Both Direk Dante and Ate Guy expressed their joy for the inclusion of Thy Womb in the official list of entries for this year's MMFF. According to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, Thy Womb's credentials will add prestige to the December filmfest.

It will now be a tough battle for the 2012 MMFF Best Actress as we have Nora Aunor, Kris Aquino, Ai Ai Delas Alas and Judy Ann Santos. Thy Womb is also a shoo-in for the Best Picture award.

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.

Coco Martin, Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos Movie in the Works!

Walang Hanggan star Coco Martin revealed that he is looking forward to doing a project with Philippine cinema's finest, Superstar Nora Aunor and Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos. 

The said movie will be helmed by Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza.

Although there is nothing definite yet about the dream project, many fans are already excited as the county's best will be put together in one movie. 

According to Direk Brillante Mendoza, he already had a talk with both Ate Guy and Ate Vi for the said project but the problem still lies with the schedule. As for Coco Martin, he is looking forward that the dream project will push through.

“Dati pa nakonsepto 'yun. Sabi ko nga sana matuloy. Kahit anong trabaho, gagawin ko ang lahat para matuloy. Masuwerte [ako]. Sabi ko nga makatrabaho ko lang sila [Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos] okay na eh. Basta parte ako ng pelikula,  isang malaking karangalan na sa akin” Coco told ABS-CBN News.

Many speculated about the story of the said film. Some suggested that a love triangle movie involving two older women and a younger man will be a good and controversial one. Others thought of making Coco a dance instructor (D.I.) for both Nora and Vilma. 

However, according to a reliable source, the story will revolve around a legitimate and illegitimate wife with Coco Martin playing the son of either Ate Guy or Ate Vi. As to who will be the legit, that is what we need to find out.

The Nora-Coco-Vilma movie is reportedly being pitched to Star Cinema. 

Photo via whynotcoconut.com

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.

Direk Brillante Mendoza Talks About 'Thy Womb' on Inside The Cinema

World-renowned director Brillante Mendoza already proved his worth in the craft he smiths. Attesting to this are his critically acclaimed films such as “Masahista”, “Serbis”, “Kinatay”, “Captive”, which were celebrated not just in the Philippines but around the globe. 

With the nomination of “Thy Womb”, his forthcoming film starring the Superstar Nora Aunor, to the ‘Golden Lion’ award in the 69th Venice International Film Festival, the seasoned director will share his experiences in making this remarkable film. 

[Read: Nora Aunor Wins Int'l Critics' Award in Venice for 'Thy Womb']

Catch him in an exclusive one-on-one interview with the country’s premier host, Boy Abunda on “Inside the Cinema” this September 11 (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m. on Cinema One. The country’s number cable channel is available on Sky Cable Gold, Sky Cable Silver and other quality cable operators nationwide. 

Follow Cinema One on Twitter @cinema_one and ‘like’ its Facebook page.

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.

Nora Aunor Wins Int'l Critics' Award in Venice for 'Thy Womb'

Superstar Nora Aunor won the Bisato d' Oro Award (Golden Eel Award) for her performance in the movie Thy Womb (Sinapupunan) which is currently competing at the 69th Venice International Film Festival.

The said award was given by an independent award giving body in Venice, the Premio Della Critica Indipendente which consists of a jury of independent film critics. Although the Bisato d' Oro Award was given by top critics not associated with the Venice Filmfest award-giving body, this could boost Nora's chances of winning the Volpi Cup, the best actress award in the said film festival.

Nora Aunor showing her Bisato d' Oro (Golden Eel)
award with Direk Dante Mendoza.

Being the first Filipina to win the Golden Eel Award, it was indeed a huge honor for Nora Aunor who said that it will just be a bonus winning an acting award since Thy Womb being invited to compete at the Venice Film Festival is already a big achievement.

Thy Womb, which is directed by Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza, is up against 17 films vying for the Golden Lion award at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. After it was screened at the festival last Thursday, the cast received a  standing ovation which lasted for more than 5 minutes.

Also starring Lovi Poe. Mercedes Cabral and Bembol Roco, Thy Womb tells the story of Shaleha (Nora Aunor), an infertile midwife who plays a match-maker to her husband Bangas-An (Bembol Roco) after struggling of giving him his own child. 

Aside from Thy Womb, Nora Aunor's Himala was also screened at the 69th Venice International Film Festival together with other restored films through its Venizia Classici.

Watch the trailer of Thy Womb (Sinapupunan) below:

Photo courtesy of Lovi Poe via Instagram

For more Kapamilya updates follow/like BIDA KAPAMILYA on Twitter and Facebook.