THE musical dramas Ang Larawan by Loy Arcenas and Changing Partners by Dan Villegas, along with Cathy Garcia-Molina’s Seven Sundays lead this year’s Luna Awards nominees with 10 nods each including the top prizes — Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, as well as a slew of technical prizes.
The Luna Awards, now on its 36th year, is given by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP). Considered the Philippine counterpart to the US’ Academy Awards, the awards night will be held on Sept. 29 at the Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
Called the FAP Awards when it started in 1983 by virtue of Executive Order 640-A by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, it was renamed as the Luna Awards in 2005.
Only films created between Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the previous year are eligible for nomination and Best Picture nominees must have at least three nominations including Best Director or Best Screenplay.
Last year’s Best Picture award went to Jun Robles Lana’s Die Beautiful. Mr. Lana also won that year’s award for Best Director while Rody Vera won Best Screenplay for the same film.
Below is the list of nominees:
• Best Picture — Ang Larawan, Changing Partners, The Chanters, Historiographika Errata, Kita Kita, Love You to the Stars and Back, Neomanila, Respeto, Seven Sundays, and Siargao
• Best Director — James Robin Mayo (The Chanters), Mikhail Red (Neomanila), Cathy Garcia-Molina (Seven Sundays), Paul Soriano (Siargao), Loy Arcenas (Ang Larawan), Antoinette Jadaone (Love You to the Stars and Back), Richard V. Somes (Historiographika Errata), Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita Kita), Alberto Monteras II (Respeto), Dan Villegas (Changing Partners)
• Best Actor — Allen Dizon (Bomba), Jericho Rosales (Siargao), Joshua Garcia (Love You to the Stars and Back), Nonie Buencamino (Smaller and Smaller Circles), Sandino Martin (Changing Partners), Empoy Marquez (Kita Kita), Justine Samson (Balangiga-Howling Wilderness), Noel Trinidad (Paki), Aga Muhlach (Seven Sundays)
• Best Actress — Joanna Ampil (Ang Larawan), Agot Isidro (Changing Partners), Dexter Doria (Paki), Alessandra de Rossi (Kita Kita), Eula Valdez (Neomanila), Jally Nae Gilbaliga (The Chanters), Julia Barreto (Love You to the Stars and Back), Erich Gonzales (Siargao)
• Best Supporting Actor — Nonie Buencamino (Ang Larawan), Ronwaldo Martin (Bhoy Intsik), John Arcilla (Birdshot), Ku Aquino (Birdshot), Romulo Caballero (The Chanters), Alex Medina (Historiographika Errata), Rocky Salumbides (Neomanila), Sid Lucero (Smaller and Smaller Circles)
• Best Supporting Actress — Kate Brios (Bomba), Anna Luna (Changing Partners), Yayo Aguila (Kiko Boksingero), Cristine Reyes (Seven Sundays), Jasmine Curtis-Smith (Siargao)
• Best Screenplay — Njel de Mesa, Alberto Monteras II (Respeto); Lilit Reyes, Vincent de Jesus (Changing Partners); Jimmy Flores (Historiographika Errata), Waya Gallardo (Ang Larawan); Mikhail Red, Rae Red and Zig Dulay (Neomanila); Roumelia Narciso, Kiko Abrillo (Seven Sundays); Andrain Legaspi, John Bedia (The Chanters); Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita Kita)
• Best Sound — Allen Roy Santos (Seven Sundays); Hit Productions (Ang Larawan); Junel R. Valencia (Historiographika Errata); Jason Conanan, Mikko Quizon and Katherine Salinas (Siargao and Changing Partners); Allen Roy Santos (Love You to the Stars and Back); Bryan Dumaguina (Neomanila); John Wong, Apol Cebreiros (Bhoy Intsik); Lamberto Casad, Immanuel T. Verona (Kita Kita); Corinne de San Jose (Smaller and Smaller Circles)
• Best Production Design — Gino Gonzales (Ang Larawan); Donald Russ Camon, Julius Erving Somes (Historiographika Errata); Edgar Littaua (Bhoy Intsik); Benjamin Padero, Carlo Tabije (Siargao); Shari Marie Montague (Changing Partners); Popo Diaz (Respeto); Daniel Red (Neomanila); Norico Santos (Seven Sundays); Thesa Tang (Kita Kita); Ana Lou Sanchez (Love You to the Stars and Back)
• Best Cinematography — Boy Yniguez (Ang Larawan), Theo Lozada (Seven Sundays), Rain Yamson II (Bhoy Intsik), Alex Espartero (Historiographika Errata), Mycko David (Birdshot), Pipo Domagas (Bomba), Albert Banzon (Balangiga-Howling Wilderness)
• Best Music — Ryan Cayabyab (Ang Larawan), Jesse Lasaten (Seven Sundays), Vincent de Jesus (Changing Partners), Len Calvo (Kita Kita), Cesar Francis Concio (Love You to the Stars and Back), Khavn (Balangiga-Howling Wilderness), Pepe Manikan (Kiko Boksingero), Francis de Veyra (Historiographika Errata)
• Best Editing — Marya Ignacio (Seven Sundays and Changing Partners); Ron Acal (The Chanters); Jay Halili (Smaller and Smaller Circles); Marya Ignacio, Joyce Bernal (Kita Kita); Jeffrey Loreno, Mikhail Red (Neomanila); Lawrence Fajardo (Ang Larawan); Jay Halili, Mikhail Red (Birdshot); John Anthony L. Wong (Bhoy Intsik); Jesus Navarro (Bomba)
A number of special awards will also be given, namely the Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award to Charo Santos-Concio, the Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievements to Rosa Rosal, the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award to Maryo J. Delos Reyes , and the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award to Augusto Buenaventura.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR