Pinoy filmmakers and artists big winners at the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan in New York

Reported by Celso De Guzman Caparas  Photos : CTTOs

(Among the Pinoy winners, from left, Direk Mac Alejandre, Direk Arlyn Dela Cruz, Cherie Gil and Janice de Belen)

Pinoy filmmakers and artists were among the winners at the 8th International Film Festival Manhattan for Autumn 2021 as officially announced in their social media account.  
Jury President: Emmanuel dela Cruz, Jury Members: Tassos Rigopoulos, Jameelah Rose Lineses, Brian Pollock, Jek Jumawan and Luis Pedron.
The pre-recorded, edited Virtual Awards Ceremony will be broadcasted via PHLV Radio from New York City, USA on October 31. 

​Here's the complete list of nominees and winners :


LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS :
1) Junior Lifetime Achievement Award
Organization: Talent & Skills
(Gherald Alaman) (USA)
2) Junior Lifetime Achievement Award
Organization/Event: The Outstanding Filipinos in America (Elton Lugay)  (USA)
3) Junior Lifetime Achievement Award
Indie Actor: Leon Miguel (Philippines)
4) Lifetime Achievement Awardee in Directing
Veteran Film and TV Director McArthur Alejandre (Philippines)
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JURY AWARDS :
1) Jury Awards Best Short Film
Nominees :
*Happy Dir: Julie Anastasopoulou (Greece)
* Pugon (The Furnace) Dir: Gabby Ramos ( Philippines) 
*Wellspring Dir: Jeffrey Smith Quizon (Philippines)
*The Stench Dir: Wong Jang (Korea)
Winner: Happy Dir: Julie Anastasopoulou (Greece)


2) Jury Award Best Documentary Short Film
Nominees:
*Panaglaga Dir: Melver Ritz Gomez (Philippines)
*Inidoro (Catch Basin) Dir: Alan Filoteo (Philippines)
* Thriving on the Spectrum Dir: Scott Klumb (USA) 
Winner: 
Thriving on the Spectrum Dir: Scott Klumb (USA) 


3) Jury Award Best of the Best Performance Short Film (Male or Female)
Nominees:
* Actor Toshinori Hamada "Shujin (Prisoner) (USA)
*Actress Jhassy Buzran "Pugon (The Furnace) (Philippines) 
*Actor Alvin Anson "Wellspring" (Philippines)
*Actress Lia Karampela "Happy" (Greece) 
Winner:
Tie Co-Winners
Actor Toshinori Hamada "Shujin (Prisoner) (USA)
Actress Jhassy Buzran "Pugon (The Furnace) (Philippines) 


4) Jury Award Best Actor
Nominees:
*Actor Alfred Vargas " Fragments" (Philippines)
* Actor June Mock "To Be MELO" (USA)
*Actor Nyamandi Adrien "Your Color (Deine Farbe)" ( USA/Germany)
Winner: 
Actor Nyamandi Adrien  "Your Color (Deine Farbe) (USA/Germany)


5) Jury Award Best Actress
Nominees:
*Actress Elizabeth Oropesa "ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas)" (Philippines)
*Actress Lucy Diamante "To Be MELO" (USA)
*Actress Daria Ramirez "ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas)" (Philippines)
Winner: 
Actress Lucy Diamante "To Be MELO" (USA)


6) Jury Award Best of the Best Performance Feature Film (Male or Female) 
* Actress Cherie Gil "Fragments" (Philippines)
*Actress Michelle Girolami "Implanted" (USA)
*Actress Lucy Diamante "To Be MELO" (USA)
Winner:
Actress Cherie Gil "Fragments" (Philippines)


7) Jury Award Best Ensemble 
Nominees: 
*Cast of "Guitarist" (Philippines)
*Cast of "The Stench" (Korea)
*Cast of "Wellspring" (Philippines)
*Cast of "Pugon (The Furnace)" (Philippines)
Winner: 
Cast of Guitarist (Philippines)


8 ) Jury Award Best Narrative
Nominees:
*To Be MELO Dir: June Monk (USA)
*Fragments Dir: McArthur Alejandre (Philippines)
*Guitarist Dir: Jason Orfalas (Philippines)
* Implanted Dir: Fabien Dufils (USA)
* Your Color Dir: Maria Diane Ventura (USA/Germany) 
Winner: Guitarist Dir: Jason Orfalas 
Prod: Ferdy Lapuz, Dennis Evangelista (Philippines) 
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Professional Category and the Various Festival Director Awardees:
IFFM Professional Awardees: 
1) Bronze Achievement Award 
"Pyramid Consulting: Dispatch & Emergency Operation Center"
Dir: Earl Harris (USA)
2) Bronze Achievement Award
"At Your Service: Abuse Hotline" Dir: Earl Harris (USA)
3) Silver Achievement Award
NYC Real Estate Dir: Edwin Josue (USA) 
4) Silver Achievement Award
Oh La La Artist and Director Andy Roda (Germany)
5) Silver Achievement Award
"Never Too Late To Be A Hero" Dir Francis Wu (USA)
6) Gold Achievement Award 
"Exploring The Blue Depths" Dir: Yann Moszynski Prod: John Parl Luces (Saudi Arabia)
7) Gold Achievement Award
"Sky Fashion - Back To Life" Dir: Edward Krakow (Russian Federation)
8 ) Top Prize Liberty Achievement Award
"Bordallo Pinheiro Corporate Video" Dir: Miguel Sales Lopes (Portugal)
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FILM DIRECTOR AWARDS :
1) Best Student Film 
Nominees:
*Toothpaste Dir: TingYu Chang (USA)
* The Other Night Dir: Jay Servedio (USA)
Winner: The Other Night Dir: Jay Servedio (USA)


2) Best Screenplay
Nominees: 
*Marrying Myself Writer: Eran B.Y. (Israel)
*ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas) Writer: Arlyn De La Cruz - Bernal (Philippines) 
Winner:  ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas) Writer: Arlyn De La Cruz - Bernal (Philippines)


3) Best Music Video
Nominees: 
*Sky Fashion - Back To Life Dir: Edward Krakow (Russian Federation)
*Oh La La Dir: Andy Roda (Germany)
*Paano Kung Tayo Dir: Jayda & Edrex Clyde Sanchez (Philippines)
* M.U. DirL Jayda & Edrex Clyde Sanchez (Philippines)
Winner: Paano Kung Naging Tayo Dir: Jayda & Edrex Clyde Snchez (Philippines)


4) Best Animation
Nominees:
*The Gecko with a Reed Dir: Diamond Stewart (USA)
*The Hole Dir: Fang Hsin Kai (Taiwan)
Winner: The Gecko with a Reed Dir: Diamond Stewart (USA)


5) Best Cinematography
Nominees: 
*The Sands Between DP: Aidan Tanner (Canada)
* Sharp DP: Jereon Simons (Netherlands)
Winner: The Sands Between DP: Aidan Tanner (Canada)


6) Best Actor Short Film:
Nominees:
* "21st & Colonial"  Actor  Angelo Reyes (USA)
* "Dayas" Actor Jeyrick Sigmaton (Philippines) 
Winner: "Dayas" Actor Jeyrick Sigmaton (Philippines) 


7) Best Actress Short Film 
Nominees: 
*"The Sands Between"  Actress Jessica Chastain (Canada)
*"Wounded Blood" Actress Janice de Belen (Philippines)
Tie: Co Winners
"The Sands Between"  Actress Jessica Chastain (Canada)
"Wounded Blood" Actress Janice de Belen (Philippines)


8 )  Best Director Short Film
Nominees:
*Fist of the Ocean Dir: Raphael Pier (USA)
* Brando's Spoon Dir: Mac Brydon (USA) 
Winner 
Brando's Spoon Dir: Mac Brydon (USA)


9) Best Director Feature Film 
Nominees:
* Your Color (Deine Farbe) Dir: Maria Diana Ventura (USA)
*Fragments  Dir: Mc Arthur Alejandre (Philippines)
Winner: Your Color (Deine Farbe) Dir: Maria Diana Ventura (USA)


10) Best Upcoming Filmmaker
Winner: Dir: Al Davis "Devil Canyon" (USA)


11) Best Upcoming Digital Filmmaker
Winner: Dir: Denys Kapush "Historical Fundraiser Celebration for Eric Adams at Minton's (USA)


12) Best Upcoming Upcoming Actress
Winner: Dir: Michelle Girolami "Implanted" (USA)


13) Independent Achievement Award Producing
Winner: Producer: Danni Ugali "Me Time" "Wounded Blood" (Philippines)


14) Indepedent Achievement Award Directing
Winner: Director: Gabby Ramos "Pugon (The Furnace)" (Philippines)


15) Independent Achievement Award Acting
Winner: Elizabeth Oropesa "ECQ Diary (Bawal Lumabas) (Philippines)


16) Independent Achievement Award Professional Category
Winner: Earl Harris "Pyramid Consulting" "At Your Service" (USA)


17) Independent Achievement Award Documentary
Winner: Melver Ritz Gomez "Panaglaga" (Philippines)


18) IFFM Gerry Balasta Advocacy Award
Winner: Wellspring Dir: Jeffrey Smith Quizon (Philippines)


19) IFFM Gerry Balasta Advocacy Award
Winner: Inidoro (Catch Basin) Dir: Alan Filoteo (Philippines)


20) IFFM Gerry Balasta Advocacy Award
Winner: Preserving The Seke Dir: Irwan Zabonk (Indonesia)


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THE HONORABLE MENTION AWARDEES :


1) Heart 2 Run 
Dir: Sean Louis and Pete Alcide (USA)
2) Welcome Back Future
Dir: Alessandro Rocca (italy)
3) A Road to Nowhere 
Dir: Safef Zaman (USA)
3) Salidumay
Dir: Dexter Macaraeg (Philippines)
4) Noli
Dir: Rolando Tulio Inocencio (Philippines)
5) A Love Letter
Dir: Juan Carlo Tarobal (Philippines)
6) Makeover #2dye4
Dir: Santiago Larrauri (Canada) 
7) Catfish
Dir: Nicholas Linnehan (USA)
 Reunion
Dir: Derrick Owens (USA)
9) Urban Wolf
Dir: Zef Cota (USA)
10) What Is An Asian Life Worth
Dir: Kai Vetteth (USA)
11) The Traveling Taoist Priest
Dir: Neo Kan (Taiwan)
12) Jazz John 
Writer: Mark Levitt  (USA)
13) 21st & Colonial 
Actor: Angelo Reyes (USA)
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About International Film Festival Manhattan 
According to its website, "We are visionaries who believe in the possibilities of New York, the greatest city in the world. We have seen how film, as a powerful medium can make a direct impact on lives or facilitate change. We also have seen the unique diversity of New York's culture and its people. Our vision is to help merge the two, creating an opportunity for filmmakers and artist to showcase their works in New York. Support will be given to all filmmakers to help find their audiences."