'Oda sa Wala' wins big at 2018 QCinema International Film Festival

The 2018 QCinema International Film Festival fittingly opened with a toast in celebration of 100 Years of Philippine Cinema, led by veteran actor Eddie Garcia and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Eddie, "Manoy" as he is known to action film fans, went on to pick up the Best Actor award. The actor dedicated his victory to his wife, Lilibeth.

2018 QCinema Best Actress: Marietta Subong (Pokwang), “Oda sa Wala”

[In photo] 2018 QCinema Best Actor: Eddie Garcia, “Hintayan ng Langit”@gmanews pic.twitter.com/58dGENONte

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) October 26, 2018

The night's big winner was "Oda sa Wala", which picked Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Actress. Director and screenwriter Dwein Baltazar proudly stated that she tends to be "emotional" and was visibly in tears as she received her film's awards.

2018 Circle Competition Best Film: “Oda sa Wala” | @gmanews pic.twitter.com/ql7e2O49KK

— Aya Tantiangco Miura (@ayaruim) October 26, 2018

Dwein recalled the break she took from cinema and the struggle she had finding support to create a movie. At one point, her daughter saw her crying and asked what was wrong. She explained in plain terms that she was sad about not having enough money to fund a film and her child offered her savings from a piggy bank.

Hardships and all, Dwein said she is happy that life works itself out.

Dwein and the other directors are part of the new crop of filmmakers that the QCinema International Film Festival hopes to nurture.

"We have been able to infuse fresh young blood into this 100 year old industry and invigorate it with new life," Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte declared in her opening speech. She additionally rejoiced at the "new, more discerning audience for film seems to have sprouted."

The full list of winners follows:

• Audience Choice Award: "Hintayan ng Langit"
• Gender Sensitivity Award: "Billie & Emma"
• Best Artistic Achievement Award: Neil Daza ("Oda sa Wala")
• Best Supporting Actress: Cielo Aquino ("Billie & Emma")
• Best Supporting Actor: Marcus Adoro ("Dog Days")
• Best Screenplay: Dwein Baltazar ("Oda sa Wala")
• Rainbow QC Jury Prize: "Hard Paint"
• Rainbow QC Best Film: "Sorry Angel"
• Asian Next Wave Jury Prize: "The Seen and Unseen"
• Asian Next Wave Best Film: "A Land Imagined"
• Best Actress: Marietta Subong ("Oda sa Wala")
• Best Actor: Eddie Garcia ("Hintayan ng Langit")
• Best Director: Dwein Baltazar ("Oda sa Wala")
• Circle Competition Netpac Jury Prize: “Dog Days”
• Circle Competition Best Film: “Oda sa Wala”

Hock Doong Ho, Max Tessier, Samuel Ho, Joachim Ng, and Oggs Cruz were part of the Circle Competition jury panel. Paolo Villnueva, Bianca Balbuena-Liew, Anne Demy-Geroe served as Asian Next Wave jurors. Sung Ho Park, Jay Altarejos, and Paolo Villaluna made up the Rainbow QC Jury.

The QCinema International Festival runs from October 24 to 30. — BAP, GMA News