24/05/2025
NEWS | Diverse stories take center stage as โISDA, Dalawa, Tatlo,โ โToti Maryโ win big at FILMayer 2025
With a record high of 14 entries, this yearโs FILMayer showcased a diverse range of storytellingโfrom a boyโs fear of circumcision, uncovering secrets behind the forest, and a search for stolen shoes to a lesbianโs sudden and mysterious pregnancy, a man throwing up money, and even an โif social media memes and trends were a movieโ type of film.
Film productions of graduating communication students were recognized in the awarding ceremony of FILMayer 2025: The 3rd PLM Festival of Movies, with shorts โISDA, Dalawa, Tatloโ and โToti Maryโ emerging as big winners, May 16.
Coming-of-age short film โISDA, Dalawa, Tatloโ by Supot Productions was hailed as the Best Short Film and bagged three other awards: Best Visual Effects (Angel Rose Gonzales, Janna Daine Bondoc, and Raquel Bendo), Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (Cultural Heritage), and Gawad Liwanag ng Kinabukasan (Children).
The Vine Productionโs dark comedy movie โToti Maryโ secured 10 awards, the most in the film festival, including 2nd Best Short Film, Best Actress (Jyra Euneece De Guzman as โToti Maryโ), Best Director (Aspen Ramirez), Best Screenplay (Aspen Ramirez, Guillian Josh Cruz, and Mark Lester Pedrezuela), Best Editing (James Clarence Albano and Marco Diaz), and Best Musical Score (Marco Diaz).
They also won the Film Excellence Promotion Award, Natatanging Pagpupugay ng Hurado (Special Jury Citation), Gawad Bahaghari (Gender Inclusivity), and Gawad Silaw (LGBTQIA+).
Thriller flick โMisteryo ng Pulay Pulayโ of Fourth Wall Studios followed closely with six recognitions: 3rd Best Short Film, Best Supporting Actor (Antonio Adlawan as โIsaganiโ), Best Cinematography (Matthew Allen Manansala), Best Editing (Matthew Allen Manansala and July Andrei Alfonso), Best Sound Design (Prince Bryan Marquez), and Best Make-up (Rechel Belando and Princess Angela Dadios).
Malinaw Productionsโ tear-jerker short โUnti-un(tinig)โ also bagged six awards, including 4th Best Short Film, Best Actor (Kelle Gleo as โGabrielโ), Best Child Performer (Zoey Madison Lim as โIrisโ), Best Ensemble, Best Location (Jazmine Robosa), and Gawad Dakilang Tinig (Marginalized Sector).
โHoy! Pradah Ko โYanโ of Kabibe Productions brought home four awards: Best Supporting Actress (Christina A. Simon as โMama Luโ), Best Costume Design (Jackylyn Sadje), Best Production Design (Venus Hermosura), and Gawad Lakambini (Women Empowerment).
Jeepney stories โPan de Viajeโ of Project Alsa and โGood Morning to Wilโ of Amoy Araw both finished with three awards.
โPan de Viajeโ won Best Theme Song (โPatungoโ by Paula Beatrice Reyes), the Film Excellence Promotion Award, and Gawad Puno ng Kinabukasan (Family).
Amoy Araw also bagged Best Theme Song (โSana Nandito Kaโ by Xiannen Oquendo), Best Poster (John Ivan Pasion), and the Peopleโs Choice Award for the morning session of the screening.
For the afternoon showing, โUTANGINA!โ of Lapira Films secured the Peopleโs Choice Award, while โKahelโ of Prismatic Studios completed the list of three winners for the Film Excellence Promotion Award.
This yearโs edition of FILMayer introduced a new set of special awards that represents specific sectors of society, such as women, children, and LGBTQIA+.
โAng biyahe ninyo bilang mga filmmaker ay pwedeng huminto, saglit. Ngunit hindi ito magtatapos. Dahil simula pa lang ang daan. Dahil ang pelikula ay sumasailalim sa tunay na buhay, paglabas ng pamantasan, naghihintay ang maliwanag na kinabukasan,โ Prof. Ayen Bayani stated.
Film Writing and Production instructors Prof. Bayani and Prof. David Ramos Jr. supervised the production of the short film entries.
Written by Raniel Paquingan
Photos by Ma. Janelle Ugot
