from right: Best Actor-Jericho Rosales (ALAGWA), Best Director- Adolf Alix Jr. (KALAYAAN), Best Actress- Nora Aunor (THY WOMB), Best Supporting Actress- Alessandra De Rossi (BAYBAYIN), Best Supporting Actor- Art Acuña (POSAS) Best Cinematographer Sasha Palomares and Whammy Alcazaren (COLOSSAL) and Best Documentary- Benito Bautista (HARANA). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Click on link for full screen pics: http://judebgallery.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/starry-urian-awards-2/

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The 36^th Gawad URIAN awards remains to be one of the most respected and credible awards for Pinoy cinema. It’s not a cliché at all its an honor just to be nominated. Stars from presenters like Richard Gomez, Cherie Gil, Iza Calzado, Xian Lim to nominees like Assunta De Rossi lit up the night. Here’s the complete list of awards and some pictures. Watch out for my full articles on the awardees etc.

Superstar with Manunuri Ng Pelikulang Pilipino- from right: Natl Artist for Literature Bien Lumbera, Rolando Tolentino, Dr. Nick Tiongson, Benilda Santos, Best Actress Nora Aunor (THYWOMB), Tito Valiente, Dr. Mike Rapatan, Mario Hernando and Butch Francisco. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

from right: Best Director- Adolf Alix Jr. (KALAYAAN), Silent Film Festival Dir. Teddy Co, Head of Cinema One and Velvet Ronald Arguelles, Best Film awardee Arnel Mardoquio and Perry Dizon both of ANG PAGLALAKBAY NG MGA BITUIN SA GABING MADILIM. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Awards LIST

Best Film

– ANG PAGLALAKBAY NG MGA BITUIN SA GABING MADILIM

by Arnel Mardoquio

5-time Urian Best Actress winner Nora Aunor (THY WOMB) during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Actress

– Nora Aunor, THY WOMB

Best Actor winner Jericho Rosales (ALAGWA) during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Actor

– Jericho Rosales, ALAGWA

Best Supporting Actress- Alessandra De Rossi (BAYBAYIN). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Supporting Actress

– Alessandra de Rossi, STA NIÑA

Best Supporting Actor- Art Acuña (POSAS). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Supporting Actor

– Art Acuña, POSAS

from right: Head of Cinema One and Velvet Ronald Arguelles, Perry Dizon with his director Arnel Mardoquio Best Film (ANG PAGLALAKBAY NG MGA BITUIN SA GABING MADILIM), Best Director winner Adolf Alix Jr. (KALAYAAN) and Cinema One Creative Consultant Sherad Anthony Sanchez. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Director

– Adolf Alix Jr, MATER DOLOROSA

Assunta De Rossi hugs her BAYBAYIN director Auraeus Solito. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Screenplay

– Mes De Guzman, DIABLO

from left: Best Production Design- Brillante Mendoza (THY WOMB), Best Music-Diwa De Leon (BAYBAYIN), Best Documentary- Benito Bautista (HARANA), Best Cinematography- Whammy Alcazaren, Sasha Palomares (COLOSSAL) and Best Supporting Actor- Art Acuña (POSAS). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Cinematography

– Whammy Alcazaren and Sasha Palomares, COLOSSAL

Best Production designer – Brillante Mendoza with 5-time Best Actress Nora Aunor both of THY WOMB. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Production Design

– Brillante Mendoza, THY WOMB

Mila Del Sol is given the NATATANGING GAWAD URIAN AWARD. She is flanked by her grandchildren from left: model John David Cruz, BAMBOO guitarist Ira Cruz and Congressman Gus Tambunting. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Natatanging Gawad Urian

– Mila del Sol

Hosts from left: Butch Francisco, Xian Lim, Iza Calzado, Richard Gomes and Cherie Gil. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Aiza Seguerra jams with General Luna during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Editing

– Aleks Castaneda, KALAYAAN

Best Music

– Diwa de Leon , BAYBAYIN

Best Music winner Diwa De Leon (BAYBAYIN) and wife Leonor Mae De Leon. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

from right: Best Production Design-Brillante Mendoza (THY WOMB), Producer Gaye Domingo accepts the Best Screenplay for Mes De Guzman (DIABLO)
, Sunshine Teodoro and Victor Villanueva accepts Best Short- for Remton Zuasola (RITMO), Kits Kintana and Andrew Leavold accept the Best Sound- for Willy Fernandez, Bong Sungcang, Ferdinand Marcos Sabarongis (FLORENTINO HUBALDO). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Sound

– Willy Fernandez, Bong Sungcang, Ferdinand Marcos Sabarongis, FLORENTINA HUBALDO

from right: Benito Bautista wins Best Documentary for HARANA
with him are Chona Aguilar, Emma Francisco, Voyage Studios’ Babyruth Villarama-Gutierrez and Chuck Gutierrez. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Documentary

– HARANA by Benito Bautista

Best Short Film

– RITMO by Remton Siega Zuasola

Chuck Gutierrez hugs Benito Bautista after winning Best Documentary (HARANA). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Bianca Balbuena, Ian Loreños (ALAGWA), Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco (HARANA) and Marge Lao (ALAGWA). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Adrian Sebastian (BAYBAYIN), Angeli Bayani of ILOILO wc won Best Director at the Cannes Film fest and MPP member Dr. Nick Tiongson. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Head of Cinema One and Velvet Ronald Arguelles, Myke Salomon, Jerald Napoles, Best Supporting Actor nominee Dax Alejandro (BAYBAYIN) and Dr. Mike Rapatan of MPP. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Mae Paner (JUANA C THE MOVIE) during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Best Documentary awardees Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco (HARANA). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Last Year’s Best Actor Paolo Avelino (ANG SAYAW NG DALAWANG KALIWANG PAA) and 2007 Best Actress Cherry Pie Picache (FOSTER CHILD) were presenters. Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

Auraeus Solito (BAYBAYIN) and Annicka Dolonius (ANG NAWAWALA). Pic was taken during 36th URIAN awards night at the NBC tent last June 18, 2013. Photo by Jude Bautista

John Lloyd Cruz is shortlisted by Starlink Asia in an upcoming Indonesian film. Photo taken by Jude Bautista at the Greenwich Grand Gig last Sept. 2009

Written by

Jude Bautista

Following the reports of Echo Rosales in the Hollywood film “Subject: I Love You,” other Filipinos will also be cast in another international film. Starlink Asia Director Shirley Tayer-Calibara revealed to the press an Indonesian horror film project is in the process of casting Kapamilya stars. The announcement was made together with the launch for their current film to be shown in theaters here by March 23, 2011:“Horror in facebook” originally entitled, “Setan facebook.”

Calibara is a Filipina who has worked for years in one of the biggest Indonesian production companies. She set up Starlink with the intention of creating a bridge between Filipino and Indonesian films.  Calibara said, “One way to promote our films abroad is to use our talents first. I recommended to our partner production companies to use Filipino performers. We can make the films marketable here by using box office names and at the same time promote them in Indonesia.”

They have expressed interest in recruiting a number of stars such as Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales, Angelica Panganiban, Gerald Anderson and even Kim Chiu. Due to scheduling conflicts only one name actress has been set to work in the upcoming horror flick. Calibara will be coming back here in March with both the producer and Director to look for cast members and finalize negotiations. She added that “We will not only be able to match the local talent fees or rates for them but also give a little extra. I don’t know of anybody who isn’t willing to expand their market or fans internationally.” Indonesia has a total population three times bigger than the Philippines so commercial success will truly be rewarding.

Christian Bautista is popular in Indonesia as a singer, now he has a lead in a feature film. Photo by Jude Bautista taken at the MMFF awards 2010

In fact, Christian Bautista as lead star has already wrapped up an Indonesian film called “Jayden’s Choir”. The original title is “Simfoni Luar Biasa” which translates to “A Very Special Symphony.” Christian plays Jayden, a talented singer who has struggled to make it big in the music industry here. So he searches for greener pastures in Jakarta, where he ends up teaching music to special children. He discovers the rewards of sharing one’s gifts and seeing them bear fruit in the lives of his students. Starlink will be releasing “Jayden’s choir” here by June. And by April 6, they will also be showing another horror film in “Redemption.”

The upcoming film project with Filipino cast members will start shooting by either May or June, “everything is set except for the cast and will depend on their schedules.” The targeted release dates here in Phil. will be October and November.

Film stars in Indonesia are at a higher level than their TV counterparts. According to Calibara they get the big endorsements. Although what drives audiences to go to theaters is story or theme based. “Unlike here, we Filipinos would go watch a film because it stars someone like Kris Aquino. There a best selling novel put to film that has a completely unknown cast will still be successful.”

Christian Bautista is such a big hit because, “Students and young people will most likely go to his concerts. He’s a household name. For Indonesians he appears very gwapo (handsome) to them.”  “Jayden’s Choir” is Bautista’s chance to make it big on the Indonesian silver screen.

Chrisitan Bautista in the Indonesian film (International Title) Jayden's Choir will be shown in Manila by June from Starlink Asia

Jude Bautista

Before you add another friend be careful because you don’t know what dangers it may bring. The pitfalls of social networking, facebook in particular is the subject of a horror flick to be shown on March 23, 2011 in Robinson’s Galleria and other theaters. ‘Horror in Facebook’ begins when Mira (Jehann Sienna) leaves her account open in an internet café. And Ferah (Chindy Anggrina) stumbles on the open account and finds out that Mira is about to wed. As a mean prank Ferrah writes on the wall and declares that she has second thoughts on the marrying Nauvan (Boy Hamzah). This leads to disastrous consequences and sparks a flame of vengeance and murder.

The film is under D’Color productions from Indonesia originally entitled “Setan Facebook”. The reason why they made the film isn’t a mystery. Indonesia ranks as one of the top three users of facebook behind the U.S. and the U.K. Webandrank.com puts Indonesia as second overall. Their Philippine distributor Starlink Asia believes that there is a place here for Indonesian films. Director for Starlink Shirley Tayer-Calibara said, “There are a lot of things that our cultures have in common. The actors and actresses look similar. The stories that appeal to Filipinos also appeal to Indonesians and vice versa.” Shirley is a Filipina owner of Starlink Asia who has been based in Indonesia for some time.

Mira's (Jehan Sienna) suicide triggers a spate of mysterious deaths

The lead actor in the film for example Boy Hamzah looks like Bamboo guitarist Ira Cruz. Female lead Chindy Anggrina has similar features with Claudine Barreto. Jehan Sienna is a less voluptuous version of Ruffa Mae Quinto. Ricky Ertan as Andar looks like our dashing Dennis Trillo. Calibara is already in the works of casting several name Filipino actors in an Indonesian production. The director of the film for the upcoming project is Helfi Kardit the same as “Horror in Facebook.” The whole film will be shot in Indonesia. Names like Kim Chiu, Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales and Angelica Panganiban have been mentioned but only one actress has been finalized. Calibara will come back here in Manila to finalize the casting and scheduling with Star Magic by March.

Starlink also has two other films to be released here in the Phil. one is “TERBUS,” international title “Redemption” for April 6. And a really anticipated hit is the Christian Bautista starrer entitled “Simfoni Luar Biasa” which translates to “A Very Special Symphony” international title is “Jayden’s Choir.” Christian stars as a vocalist who tries his luck at stardom here in Manila. But due to economic difficulties decides to work as a music teacher in Jakarta and falls in love with the vocation and mission of education. “Jayden’s Choir” is scheduled to hit theaters this June here in the Phil.

These ghosts may end up in your friend's list if you're not careful.