Live Blog: TOFARM Film Festival 2018 Awards Night

We're doing updates as we go cover the TOFARM Film Festival Awards Night so refresh this post every hour. 

They just started giving away the awards this evening.

Best Supporting Actress was a tie and went to Bayang Barrios and Gileth Sandico.

Richard Quan won Best Supporting Actor for the film 1957. He sends his thanks to his director, Ms How, for bringing the plight of farmers to the forefront. He was happy to have finally won a major acting award this year. 

For Best Production Design, they gave the award to Martin Masadao for the film Tanabata's Wife.

Best Sound went to Manuel Verona for Mga Anak ng Kamote.

Best Musical Score went to Kurt Alalag, May Padilla, Marc Tan for Tanabata's Wife.

Best Editing went to May Padilla for again, Tanabata's Wife.

Best Cinematography went to Napjamir of Tanabata's Wife.

Best Story goes Hubert Pibi for 1957.

Best Screenplay was between 4 films, it was given to Tanabata's Wife.

Special Awards for Short Film : The category is called The Direk Maryo J Memorial Awardees

Aning Ginto Award for the film SIKAP. This was a team of teens from Tugegarao.

3rd Best Short Film Tahanan ng Isang Magsasaka.

2nd Best Short Film Kaluguran Da Ka, Ma! which was made by a team from Pampanga.

Best Short Film was declared to the film Panginoong May Lupa. 

Major Awards:

Best Actress was won by first timer Mail Fanglayan for Tanabata's Wife. She gave a heartfelt speech about the plight of farmers in Cordillera.

Best Actor was won by Miyuki Kimimura for Tanabata's Wife. He's a Japanese guy, and asked us to pray for Baguio.

Best Director went to Charlson Ong, Lito Casaje, Choy Pangilinan for Tanabata's Wife. They thanked Ms. Milagros How for the patience in making their entry, they said the accolades and inspiration was a bonus.

Then TOFARM Film Festival gave a special award to veteran actor Robert Arevalo for his work in the film industry. He dedicated the award to his father. He was given a tribute by Bibeth Orteza, Dr. How and a song number by DULCE.

They also gave Joey Romero and Bibeth Orteza special awards, a way of appreciating their work for this festival.

And finally, the People's Choice Award went to the film SOL SEARCHING.

3rd Best Picture is Alimuom. The director dedicated the win to the farmers and the scientists who work hard to make the agriculture sector better. 2nd Best Picture is 1957. They dedicated the win to the farmers of Bicol, Iriga  City. Best picture of TOFARM Film Festival is Tanabata's Wife. 

Congrats to all the winners and I hope more people would get to see your films, please make this available commercially and have it distributed by major outfits, it just needs to be seen!

KUMAGCOW

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TOFARM Announces Festival Director, New Category

TOFARM Film Festival 2018 has just announced their new festival director that will not replace former Maryo J Delos Reyes but rather continue his legacy in this one of a kind film festival that aims to uplift the plight of farmers. They have already proven the caliber of their work as it has won festivals left and right, both local and international just this past year. They have harvested a lot as TOFARM and people behind their films create Filipino film masterpieces and showcase these to stakeholders, everyone who would take interest in their plight and how they would tell the stories in these medium. Their theme this year is Tribute to Life: Parating Na which connotes a better life and expecting a great return for the hardships they’ve been through specifically for the agriculture and farming industry. They will also introduce a new category for short films so they can get up and coming, non professional film makers to take up the challenge and create stories with the theme “Slice of Life”.

Philanthropist and EVP of Universal Harvester Inc. Dr. Milagros How says “It’s so nice to see you and share with you what TOFARM Film Festival has this 2018. In the untimely passing of Maryo J, many of you were asking what would happen to this festival, well we will continue with our new advisers and consultants. We have Bibeth Orteza, our consultant Laurice Guillen who unfortunately couldn’t be here right now and Direk Joey Romero, so TOFARM is definitely alive. We can only expect the best. The TOFARM Film Festival Director, Direk Bibeth Orteza, our Managing Director Joey Romero. Cheers to farmers all over the Philippines and cheers to the Filipino Film industry!”

Bibeth says “I am here because I am a grand daughter of a farmer, the films of my childhood, titles that have been familiar for me. I saw Direk Maryo last Christmas and he told me I should be here. This opportunity and privilege to serve the farmers is just a good thing. The roi will be 50/50 between TOFARM and the filmmaker. The shortfilm competition will be for entries 1-10minutes long.”

Sir Joey Romero says “Our achievement dinner was a few weeks before Maryo J passed away. We talked about how Ms How was so passionate about this film festival - and now I am part of it.”

Ms Bibeth also adds “The deadline will be April 20, 2018 and will be sent to the TOFARM Secretariat. 7 finalists will be announced on May 23, 2018. Each will be given Php 1,500,000 which will be given in three tranches (Php 500,000) then the director can solicit funds to augment costs for the film. It must be about a Farmer, livestock raiser, fisher folk, or anything related to agriculture. We are also going to have a TOFARM Short Film Competition.”

Joey Romero also explained the short film category and says “The short film competition, will have 7 finalists. It will be shot entirely on a cellphone, the period of submission will be the same, professionals cannot join. It will be announced on September 12-18. They can have a maximum of 2 entries but only one will be a finalist. You can win Php 50,000 and a high end mobile phone as grant if you get chosen.”

For all interested parties, please visit their website www.tofarm.org and download the competition forms, fill it up and follow the instructions. My friends and I are going to try our luck in the short film category, because WHY NOT? We could get the chance to win too. They also plan to distribute and showcase their films to schools and special screenings nationwide, so stay tuned!

KUMAGCOW

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TOFARM Film Festival Awards Night (Part 2)

Thanks for being so patient. I'd like to be a little more detailed about what happened during the awards night at Shangrila Makati. Now I thought my favorite film in TOFARM Film Festival wasn't getting that much attention, but later on in the evening I saw quite a good number of the awards go to High Tide. Pardon me but I really connected with it as it was in a dialect that I could understand. It felt so charming seeing and hearing it on screen even if it was all about climate change. I guess I am leaning toward this movie because of that.

They called in all the Directors and thanked them on stage. The judges also gave them pats on the back for a job well done.

The Jurors include acclaimed Director Laurice Guillen, flanked by Dr. Milagros How and Direk Maryo J. Delos Reyes.

Direk Laurice began stating that there is a special jury prize to be given away. This part surprised me, I didn't know they had something like this.

For the Best Performance as an ensemble, it was given to the three kids of High Tide. I was so happy for them I had to put down my camera and clap for these kids. They didn't want to talk on the microphone either LOL!

Good looking heathrob and kapuso crooner Ruru Madrid made the ladies swoon. I wouldn't blame them, he sang LIVE without any hesitation, but admits later on how neevous he was singing in front of people who mostly were members of the press.

For the major awards, they got premier actress Cherrie Pie Picache, host extraordinaire Edu Manzano and Direk Laurice Guillen to call them on stage. I already knew who was going to win by the mere mention of their names LOL. 

We were a but surprised though because they declared 2 winners for the Best ctor award. They gave it to "Kamunggai's Roger "Soe" Gonzales and What Home Feels Like's Bembol Roco. Mind you Mr. Bembol Roco also tied with somebody last year for the same category. 

Looking at him so humbled and thankful in his speech felt so good, I think they made the right call on this one.

Bembol Roco's wife in the film Ms. Irma Adlawan also won the Best Actress trophy and said she initially didn't want to attend as she believes the actors shouldn't be pitted against each other. She believes they all deserve to be winners for merely being there for a noble cause.

For the Best Director Award, Joseph Abello won for What Home Feels Like. He thanked all his mentors for guiding and teaching him the ropes in this project.

Then it was time for Ms. How to award the cash prizes for the Best Picture category.

For 3rd Best Picture, they gave it to INSTALADO. The whole cast and production went to the stage and accepted the award.

For 2nd Best Picture, it went to What Home Feels Like. The whole town went to the stage LOL. They were so happy especially the producers and the Director who believed about their story from day 1.

I was so happy to hear that my favorite film in this year's TOFARM Film Festival eventually won BEST PICTURE. Yes it's High Tide. I wanted them to win in the other categories too but this was definitely sweet! Congratulations to the cast, they really did good imho.

After the event, I got to talk to Ruru Madrid and that's when he told me he was so nervous about his number earlier. For me, he did so fine. I felt he was so confident to do that LIVE.

Also saw Jeffrey Hidalgo, remember him from Smokey Mountain? He looks like my friend Rod Magaru in all angles hahah. He was a nice chap.

Congratulations too the men and women behind the movie What Home Feels Like. I will be watching this movie today as it is the last day of TOFARM. Make sure you rush to theaters today! 

I also saw THE Whitney Tyson. It was a huge throwback moment for me, especially since I find her so funny in Going Bananas.

I only have hugh respects for what Universal Harvest Inc. is doing. Who would have thought that doing CSR work and film making was possible right? Dr. How and the company isn't just helping the film industry, she's making the public aware of the small issues that have hounded the farmers for years. Hopefully they won't be just helped by the private entities, but by the government and the public too. It was not just entertaining, but very educational. Please enjoy the films as they are on the last day of screenings at Gateway Mall, SM Megamall, Greenbelt and Cinematheque in Manila.

Congratulations TOFARM Film Festival! I'll see you next year, yes?!

TOFARM Film Festival Awards Night (Part 1)

You've all seen it, you've heard it and now comes the grueling task of picking who did great at the TOFARM Film Festival on it's second year. The entries last year were all good. VP of Universal Harvest Incorporated Dr. Milagros O. How puts it "It has been a good first year and the entries we had last year has not just made us happy, it has exceeded our expectations and even won awards locally and internationally. It has put the farmer's plight in the forefront and given it the attention that it deserves." and true enough, it has already churned several accolades and nominations from different award giving bodies including the top award in the Shanghai International Film Festival via Paulo Villaluna's "Pauwi Na" (Pedicab) plus the Golden Goblet trophy from the jurors which made the TOFARM Film Festival executives ecstatic to make this second year even bigger.

Making this whole thing happen must not have been easy as the jurors have to choose only a few movies among the 140++ scripts that have been screened this year. During this evening, it was time to choose among the actors, the people behind it, the entries of who fared well as the judges and the viewing public had a hand at it too.

The Festival Director and Film Maker Maryo J. Delos Reyes took the stage and thanked everyone who came, then introduced the films that made it to this year's entries. He also acknowledged the 6 film directors who did an excellent job at making these movies for the duration of the festival.

Hosting the show was lovely Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez. Tom was extra sweet, he mentioned something about being together on stage, it may or may not be part of the script. They look so natural up there.

Christopher De Leon announced the nominees for the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress Category.

When they announced the winner, it went to Francis Magundayao for Instalado. It's his first award ever.

I was rooting for Sunshine to win the Best Supporting Actress category but the one who won it was Barbara Miguel for Instalado. She won in the Harlem International Film Festival in 2013, so this wasn't surprising.

To give the awards for Best Music and Best Sound.

My apologies because I didn't get to take a photo of the winner for Best Music which went to Hiroko Nagai and Harold Andre Cruz Santos for What Home Feels Like. Best Sound award went to Wild Sound for the movie Instalado.

I haven't seen Bayang Barrios for a while, the last time I think was during the launch of the 1898 album... that was ages ago. She is also part of the movie "Kamunggay" which I plan to watch later since it's the last day.

To announce the winners for several production awards, they called in Joel Torre and Anna Capri plus a guy who's name I didn't take note of, my apologies.

The Best Production Design award went to Mark Sabas of Instalado. I guess it's because they got to execute a sci fi movie on a limited budget, imagine how hard that would have been no?

Then they gave the Best Editing award to the team of Michael Bayani Canino and Director Tara Illenberger of High Tide. I guess those shots in the remote island and how they tied it up has got a lot to do with it.

For the Best Cinematography, it was bagged by TM Malones for the movie High Tide. The treatment for various weather conditions was superb in this movie. They chose the right winner.

To announce the rest of the winners for the other production awards, out came the immortal Gabby Concepcion together with Director Maryo J. Delos Reyes.

Best Story went to Joseph Abello for What Home Feels Like. I was told the story was actually about a real father of one of the Producers, which they chose to NOT to watch the film since this would make things awkward haha!

This was the time where I saw how they were picking up the awards like hotcakes. The Best Screenplay went to again, Joseph Abello for What Home Feels Like.

The People's Choice Award went to INSTALADO and the Director attributed it to the tons of people who watched the film, plus of course he took time to say thanks to the fans of McCoy who voted for them.

Congratulations to the winners of the recent TOFARM Film Festival. I'll publish the second part of the awards in a bit including the recognition they bestowed upon the judges and directors of the 6 films. So if you haven't watched the entries yet, make sure you do today because it's the last day of screening. You can go to Greenbelt, Gateway Mall, SM Megamall, Cinematheque via FDCP and UP Cinema. You may check the schedules here.

Another TOFARM Entry To Watch: High Tide

This is a Tara Illenberger masterpiece that should never be missed during the TOFARM Film Festival 2017. I'm an Ilonggo from Bago City so saying this movie hits home is just as good as my existence. The dialect itself has been hailed as one of the sweetest things to hear and listening to it be uttered by the actors and actresses in this film made me so proud that even though it's subtitled, everyone seems to have been able to connect with it. 

Two quite interesting characters are above, which I would want the first one (Sunshine Teodoro) to at least bag a Best Supporting Actress award on Sunday. That's beside Arthur Solinap who's usually seen on GMA shows who did quite a good job in the Dad role. I do have several cousins who look like him so don't be to awkward seeing how meztizo he is in this film. The plight of fish farmers, on how they go through tough times like rough seas and having to survive a measely salary living day to day in a very small town. He also will let you know how even a small thing like the tide's rise could affect the lives of fishermen, their families and how much time they have spent out in the seas so they could put food on the table.

It's a nice tell all of folks who depend on fish farms, and how no matter what the season is, they still have to fix their pens and move earth, mountains to get their produce sold to the market, and earn a little even if they've worked so hard the whole day already.

TOFARM Film Festival will run only until July 18 so make sure you don't moss to watch High Tide as it's one of the nicest films I've watched in quite a while. 

KUMAGCOW

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