The film El Presidente won the major awards in the 61st Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards held recently.
El Presidente is a biographical film based on the life of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic.
It starred by Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito as Emilio Aguinaldo with Cesar Montano, Christopher de Leon, Nora Aunor, and Cristine Reyes, directed by Mark Meilly.
The film was awarded 14 FAMAS trophies including Best Actor for Ejercito, Best Supporting Actor for Montano who played Andres Bonifacio in the film, Best Director for Meilly, Best in Production Design, Best Screenplay, Best Story, Best Original Theme Song and Best Picture.
It also took home all the technical awards such as Best Special and Visual Effects, Editing, Cinematography, Sound, and Musical Score.
FAMAS Awards is one of the four main film awards of the Philippines, and organized by an independent award-giving body composed of notable writers and movie columnists. It is the Philippines’ equivalent to Oscars or the Academy Awards in the United States.
Other winners of the prestigious award were Angel Locsin as the Best Actress for the movie One More Try, and Jaclyn Jose as the Best Supporting Actress for A Secret Affair.
Special Recognition Award was given to German Moreno, and the FAMAS Presidential Award in Cinema Art was awarded to Nora Aunor.
Days before emerging as the big winner in FAMAS, El President also had been recognized in New York at the SoHo International Film Festival with the Best World Showcase Award.
Other finalists in the category which the Filipino film beat are Assault on Wall Street from Canada, Body Complete from Austria, Tim Sanders Goes To Hollywood from Germany.
