The 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal concluded with major wins for I’mPerfect, Unmarry, and Manila’s Finest at the awards night held Saturday, December 27, at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City.
Topping the evening’s biggest accolade, I’mPerfect was named First Best Picture, celebrated for its inclusive cast and storytelling centered around characters with Down syndrome. The film also earned the Jury Prize for Best Ensemble, while lead actress Krystel Go clinched Best Actress in a competitive field that included Nadine Lustre and Angelica Panganiban.
Comedian and host Vice Ganda secured the Best Actor award for his performance in Call Me Mother, marking a significant milestone in his cinematic career.
Director Jeffrey Jeturian won Best Director for Unmarry, which also took home Second Best Picture honors. Meanwhile, Manila’s Finest and Call Me Mother shared Third Best Picture distinction, reflecting a strong showing among the festival’s official entries.
The crime drama Manila’s Finest dominated several technical categories, picking up awards including Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Musical Score, and Best Original Song for “Sandalan.” It was additionally recognized with the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award.
Other notable winners included Tom Rodriguez as Best Supporting Actor for his role in Unmarry and Odette Khan as Best Supporting Actress for Bar Boys: After School. Lucas Andalio earned Best Child Performer for his work in Call Me Mother.
The festival also spotlighted fresh talent and special recognitions, such as the Breakthrough Performance award for Zack Sibug (Unmarry), the Gender Sensitivity Award for Call Me Mother, and Hall of Fame inductions for Judy Ann Santos and Ericson Navarro.
As the MMFF continues to evolve, this year’s Gabi ng Parangal highlighted both artistic excellence and greater inclusivity in Philippine cinema, setting a memorable tone for the country’s film community.
