Katips, a film about Martial Law produced by Philstager Films, emerges as the big winner as it takes home seven awards out of its 17 nominations at the 70th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards.
The timely film bagged Best Picture, besting other nominees Kun Maupay Man It Panahon, Big Night, A Hard Day and Arisaka. It also scored Best Original Song for “Sa Gitna ng Dulo,” Best Musical Score (Pipo Cifra) and Best Cinematography (Manuel Abanto).
Stars of the film also dazzled at the awards night last 30 July at the Manila Metropolitan Theater. Johnrey Rivas was lauded with a Best Supporting Actor award for his performance as an activist who was tortured. Lawyer Vince Tañada took home the Best Director and Best Actor awards. He bested Law Fajardo (A Hard Day), Jun Lana (Big Night), Carlo Francisco Manatad (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon) and Mikhail Red (Arisaka).
On the other hand, Tañada beat Dingdong Dantes (A Hard Day), Christian Bables (Big Night), Jerome Ponce (Katips), Daniel Padilla (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon) and Mon Confiado (Arisaka) for Best Actor.
“When my father died in 2020 because of Covid, I realized that life is indeed short. I really need to do this film because it is only through films that I will be immortalized as an artist,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Other big winners are Charo Santos-Concio (Best Actress for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon); Janice de Belen (Best Supporting Actress for Big Night); Jun Lana (Best Screenplay for Big Night); Whammy Alcazaren (Best Production Design for Kun Maupay Man It Panahon); Law Fajardo (Best Editing for A Hard Day); Albert Micahel Idioma, Alex Tomboc and Pietro Marco Javier (Best Sound for A Hard Day); Santelmo Studio (Best Visual Effects for My Amanda) and See You George! by Mark Moneda (Best Short Film).
Katips follows the story of student-activists in the martial law times. Prior to the FAMAS Awards, it also earned recognition at the World Film Carnival in Singapore. Supposedly premiered in June, Tañada made it a point to release the film on 3 August which is also the premiere date of the infamous film that will show the last few hours of the Marcoses in power during the same period.