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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Aquino Plotado bags Best Film Producer at 12th Emirates Film Festival 2026

Aquino Plotado bags Best Film Producer at 12th Emirates Film Festival 2026

Published Jul 28, 2026 03:20 pm

At A Glance

  • Filipino film producer Aquino Plotado received the Best Film Producer award at the 12th Emirates Film Festival 2026 in Dubai.

Film producer Aquino Plotado received the Best Film Producer award during the 12th Emirates Film Festival 2026 held on July 26 at the New Covent Garden Theatre in Mall of the Emirates.

Plotado was recognized for producing the short film "As the Call, So the Echo." The film previously earned Best Director for writer-director Rusty Palacio Guarin and Best Actor for Enzo Pineda during the 11th Emirates Film Festival.

The latest recognition comes a year after Plotado received the Billion Dirhams Deal Maker Award at the 2025 Emirates Real Estate Awards.

Among the night's biggest winners was "Bukal," directed by Epy Quizon, which won Best Film. Quizon also took home the Best Director trophy.

John Moreland Lynn was named Best Actor for "Quiet on Set," while Ruwani Tebuwanage won Best Actress for "Police Seat."

Francis Gacer received the Best Screenplay award for "Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy," while "Vera" won Best Cinematography.

Other winners included "Thraattu" for Best Editor, "Cassandra's Client" for Best Sound, "Yung Tayo Na Hindi Naging Tayo" for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, "Toxicity" (Canada) for Best Production Design, and "Osman" for Best Cast Ensemble.

Ritchie Barrios won Best Supporting Actor for "Yung Tayo Na Hindi Naging Tayo," while Jessica Miranda was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Batingaw."

The festival also presented its Regional Film Awards. India's "Thufaili (Uninvited Guest)" won Best Regional Film for South Asia, while the Philippines' "Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy" was named Best Regional Film for Southeast Asia. Egypt's "The Keyboard," France's "L'Appel," and the UAE's "Unleash Your Imagination" received awards for the Middle East, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), respectively. "The First," directed by Noor Al Qasimi, was named Best Emirati Film.

Special awards were also presented to Charmae Cabrera as EFF Promising Actress, Ron Jordan De Ocampo as EFF Promising Actor, and Orli Gayeta, who received the EFF Filmmaker Recognition Award.

During the event, Emirates Film Festival founder and CEO Ron Awa said the festival aims to expand its international reach by attracting more filmmakers from around the world in future editions and further position Dubai as a hub for cinema and cultural exchange.

Related Tags

Aquino Plotado Emirates Film Festival 2026 Dubai Filipino film producer Best Film Producer As the Call So the Echo Epy Quizon Bukal Enzo Pineda Rusty Palacio Guarin John Moreland Lynn Ruwani Tebuwanage Jessica Miranda Ritchie Barrios Francis Gacer Ron Awa Philippine cinema UAE
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