It's all systems go as the Philippine Movie Press Club, Inc. (PMPC) gears up for the 38th Star Awards for Movies to be held early 2023.

Founded in the late 1960s, PMPC is considered to be the pioneering group of entertainment media in the country. It is a professional group of active entertainment columnists, editors, writers, and bloggers/vloggers.

The PMPC Star Awards is known for its sophistication and artistry. The 38th Star Awards for Movies is expected to be a rebirth -- of a grand tribute to local movie industry, the filmmakers, workers, and performers -- as well as for the PMPC for keeping the industry alive and well during those bleak times who championed both mainstream and independently-produced films shown and streamed in 2021.

Truly a milestone year at 38, PMPC PMPC intends to bring back the glamour and glitz of showbiz celebration. A special presentation is devoted to honoring two industry icons: Ms. Helen Gamboa for the Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award, and Director Chito Roño for the Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award.

This awards night is headed by PMPC President Fernan de Guzman as overall chair together with the 2022 officers and board of directors. Current PMPC Secretary Mell Navarro is the chairman for the 38th Star Awards for Movies together with PMPC Treasurer Lourdes Fabian as co-chairman.

Here is the official list of nominees for the 38th Star Awards for Movies:

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

• “Big Night!” (Cignal Entertainment, Quantum Films, IdeaFirst Company, October Train Films)
• “Deception” (Viva Films and Borracho Film Productions)
• “Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw” (Heaven’s Best Entertainment)
• “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” (Black Sheep, iWantTFC, Globe Studios, Cinematografica, planc., Quantum Films, CMB Films, House on Fire, AAND Company, KawanKawan Media, Weydemann Bros.)
• “My Amanda” (Spring Films and AWOO)
• “On The Job 2: The Missing 8” (Reality MM Studios, Globe Studios, HBO Asia Originals)
• “Resbak” (Cignal Entertainment and Center Stage Productions)

MOVIE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Alessandra De Rossi (My Amanda)
• Louie Ignacio (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Joel Lamangan (Deception)
• Jun Robles Lana (Big Night!)
• Carlo Francisco Manatad (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Erik Matti (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Brillante Mendoza (Resbak)

INDIE MOVIE OF THE YEAR

• “A Far Away Land” (Mavx Productions)
• “Arisaka” (Ten17P Films)
• “Gensan Punch” (Center Stage Productions and Gentle Underground Monkeys)
• “Historia Ni Ha” (Sine Olivia Pilipinas)
• “Katips” (PhilStagers Films)
• “Lockdown” (For The Love of Art Films)
• “Nelia” (A and Q Production Films, Inc.)

INDIE MOVIE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Lav Diaz (Historia Ni Ha)
• Lester Dimaranan (Nelia)
• Joel Lamangan (Lockdown)
• Brillante Mendoza (Gensan Punch)
• Mikhail Red (Arisaka)
• Vince Tañada (Katips)
• Veronica Velasco (A Far Away Land)

MOVIE ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

• Claudine Barretto (Deception)
• Sharon Cuneta (Revirginized)
• Rita Daniela (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Alessandra De Rossi (My Amanda)
• Sunshine Dizon (Versus)
• Janine Gutierrez (Dito At Doon)
• Angelica Panganiban (Love Or Money)
• Yassi Pressman (More Than Blue)
• Maja Salvador (Arisaka)
• Charo Santos-Concio (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)

MOVIE ACTOR OF THE YEAR

• John Arcilla (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Christian Bables (Big Night!)
• John Lloyd Cruz (Historia Ni Ha)
• Dingdong Dantes (A Hard Day)
• Paolo Gumabao (Lockdown)
• Daniel Padilla (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Piolo Pascual (My Amanda)
• JC Santos (More Than Blue)
• Vince Tañada (Katips)
• Dennis Trillo (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )

MOVIE SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

• Janice De Belen (Big Night!)
• Dolly De Leon (Historia Ni Ha)
• Lotlot De Leon (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Eugene Domingo (Big Night!)
• Dexter Doria (Memories Of Forgetting)
• Ina Feleo (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Chanda Romero (Deception)
• Ruby Ruiz (Lockdown)

MOVIE SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR

• John Arcilla (A Hard Day)
• Mon Confiado (Arisaka)
• Ricky Davao (Big Night!)
• Christopher De Leon (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Ronnie Lazaro (Gensan Punch)
• Khalil Ramos (Resbak)
• Johnrey Rivas (Katips)
• Dante Rivero (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )

NEW MOVIE ACTRESS OF THE YEAR

• Andi Abaya (Caught In The Act)
• Cloe Barreto (Silab)
• Jhassy Busran (Caught In The Act)
• Quinn Carillo (Silab)
• Angeli Khang (Mahjong Nights)
• Nicole Laurel Asensio (Katips)
• AJ Raval (Death Of A Girlfriend)
• Rans Rifol (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)

NEW MOVIE ACTOR OF THE YEAR

• JC Alcantara (Hello Stranger, The Movie)
• Sean De Guzman (Anak Ng Macho Dancer)
• Joaquin Domagoso (Caught In The Act)
• Marco Gomez (Silab)
• Rob Gomez (A Girl And A Guy)

Miggy Jimenez (Gameboys, The Movie)
• Patrick Quiroz (Hello Stranger, The Movie)
• Kyle Velino (Gameboys, The Movie)

CHILD PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

• Prinz Red Casiple (Silab)
• Yñigo Delen (Rabid, “HM” episode)
• Lhian Gimeno (A Hard Day)
• Ella Ilano (The Housemaid)
• Jilliane Suen (Versus)

MOVIE ENSEMBLE ACTING OF THE YEAR

• The cast of “A Hard Day”
• The cast of “Big Night!”
• The cast of “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon”
• The cast of “More Than Blue”
• The cast of “My Husband, My Lover”
• The cast of “On The Job 2: The Missing 8”
• The cast of “Resbak”

INDIE MOVIE ENSEMBLE ACTING OF THE YEAR

• The cast of “A Far Away Land”
• The cast of “Arisaka”
• The cast of “Gameboys, The Movie”
• The cast of “Historia Ni Ha”
• The cast of “Katips”
• The cast of “Lockdown”
• The cast of “Versus”

SHORT MOVIE OF THE YEAR

• “Bakit Ako Sinusundan Ng Buwan?” (Sinehalaga, NCCA, Negros Cultural Foundation, Red Room Media Productions)
• “Black Rainbow” (Sinehalaga, NCCA, Negros Cultural Foundation, Uncle Scott Global Productions)
• “Dayas” (Sine Cordillera Films and Be Unrivaled Productions)
• “Hadlok” (Sinehalaga, NCCA, Negros Cultural Foundation, Pelikula Productions)
• “I Get So Sad Sometimes” (QCinema, Project 8 Projects, Blackout Studios, and Quezon City Film Development Commission)
• “Kids On Fire” (Screen Asia)
• “Lorna” (Sinehalaga, NCCA, Negros Cultural Foundation, All Blacks Media)
• “Pugon” (Rems Films)
• “The Dust In Your Place” (Cutaway Productions)

SHORT MOVIE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

• Zig Dulay (Black Rainbow)
• Noel Escondo (Lorna)
• Jianlin Floresca (Dayas)
• Ralston Jover (Hadlok)
• Richard Soriano Legaspi (Bakit Ako Sinusundan Ng Buwan?)
• Kyle Nieva (Kids On Fire)
• David Olson (The Dust In Your Place)
• Trishtan Perez (I Get So Sad Sometimes)
• Gabby Ramos (Pugon)

TECHNICAL CATEGORIES
(Mainstream and Indie Films)

MOVIE SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Giancarlo Abrahan, Carlo Francisco Manatad, Jeremie Dubois (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Alessandra De Rossi (My Amanda)
• Troy Espiritu (Resbak)
• Easy Ferrer (Deception)
• Jun Robles Lana (Big Night!)
• Acy Ramos and Rich Mangubat-Lunasco (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Michiko Yamamoto (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
MOVIE CINEMATOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

• Neil Derrick Bion (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Neil Derrick Bion (Rabid: Kami Lang Ba Ang Pwedeng Malasin?)
• Teck Siang Lim (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Carlo Canlas Mendoza (Big Night!)
• Carlos Montaño Jr. (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Joshua Reyles (Resbak)
• Boy Yñiguez (My Amanda)

MOVIE EDITOR OF THE YEAR

• Joyce Bernal and Renard Torres (My Amanda)
• Vanessa De Leon (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Diego Marx Dobles (Resbak)
• Benjo Ferrer (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Jay Halili (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Marya Ignacio (Love Or Money)
• Benjamin Tolentino (Big Night!)

MOVIE PRODUCTION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

• Whammy Alcazaren (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Jay Custodio (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Marxie Maolen Fadul (Big Night!)
• Paul Infante (My Amanda)
• Dante Mendoza (Resbak)
• Ericson Navarro (Revirginized)
• Roma Regala and Michael Español (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )

MOVIE MUSICAL SCORER OF THE YEAR

• Teresa Barrozo (Big Night!)
• Diwa De Leon (Resbak)
• Von De Guzman (Deception)
• Andrew Florentino (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Dek Margaja (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Erwin Romulo, Malek Lopez, Arvin Nogueras (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• The Storyteller Project (My Amanda)

MOVIE SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Lamberto Casas Jr. and Pietro Marco Javier (Rabid: Kami Lang Ba Ang Pwedeng Malasin?)
• Corinne De San Jose (On The Job 2: The Missing 8 )
• Jedd Dumaguina (Resbak)
• Roman Dymny (Kun Maupay Man It Panahon)
• Allen Roy Santos (My Amanda)
• Alex Tomboc and Aian Caro (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Immanuel Verona (Big Night!)

MOVIE THEME SONG OF THE YEAR

• “Deception” -- performed by Nicole Omillo, composed by Ferdie Topacio, arranged by Ricky Gonzales (“Deception”)

• “Ito Ang Resbak” -- performed and composed by Rusty Loayon, arranged by Diwa De Leon (“Resbak”)

• “Maghihintay” -- performed and composed by Marion Aunor, arranged by Cool Cat Ash (“More Than Blue”)

• “Umulan Man O Umaraw” -- performed by Rita Daniela, composed by Louie Ignacio, arranged by Bobby Velasco (“Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw”)

INDIE MOVIE SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

• Honee Alipio (Gensan Punch)
• Lav Diaz (Historia Ni Ha)
• Troy Espiritu (Lockdown)
• Ralston Jover (Versus)
• Anton Santamaria (Arisaka)
• Vince Tañada (Katips)
• Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel (A Far Away Land)

INDIE MOVIE CINEMATOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

• Manuel Abanto (Katips)
• Mycko David (Arisaka)
• Lav Diaz (Historia Ni Ha)
• Gilbert Obispo and Journalie Payonan (Lockdown)
• Marvin Reyes (A Far Away Land)
• Joshua Reyles (Gensan Punch)
• Arvin Viola, Nix Bagaoisan, Onin Estrella, Kent Rustlee Flores, Manuel Garcellano (Memories Of Forgetting)

INDIE MOVIE EDITOR OF THE YEAR

• Armando Lao, Peter Arian Vito, Ysabelle Denoga (Gensan Punch)
• Gilbert Obispo (Lockdown)
• Nikolas Red (Arisaka)
• Mark Jason Sugcang (Katips)
• Benjamin Tolentino (Gameboys, The Movie)
• Noah Tonga (A Far Away Land)
• Renard Torres (Dito At Doon)

INDIE MOVIE PRODUCTION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

• Jay Custodio (Lockdown)
• Jay Custodio (Silab)
• Lav Diaz (Historia Ni Ha)
• Eero Yves Francisco (Arisaka)
• Erik Manalo (A Far Away Land)
• Dante Mendoza (Gensan Punch)
• Roland Rubenecia (Katips)

INDIE MOVIE MUSICAL SCORER OF THE YEAR

• Pipo Cifra (Katips)
• Von De Guzman (Nelia)
• Diwa De Leon (Gensan Punch)
• Jessie Lasaten (A Far Away Land)
• Myka Magsaysay-Sigua and Paul Sigua (Arisaka)
• Jerrold Tarog (Dito At Doon)
• Emerzon Texon (Gameboys, The Movie)

INDIE MOVIE SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

• Cecil Buban (Historia Ni Ha)
• Sergei Groshev (A Far Away Land)
• Albert Michael Idioma (Gensan Punch)
• Christopher Mendoza (Nelia)
• Dondon Mendoza (Katips)
• Fatima Nerikka Salim and Immanuel Verona (Arisaka)
• Roy Santos (Gameboys, The Movie)

INDIE MOVIE THEME SONG OF THE YEAR

• “Sa Gitna Ng Gulo” -- performed by Jerome Ponce, Nicole Laurel Asensio, Vince Tañada, Adelle Ibarrientos, Joshua Bulot, Vean Olmedo, Johnrey Rivas, and Carla Lim; lyrics by Vince Tañada, composed by Pipo Cifra (“Katips”)

• “Sa Susunod Na Ikot Ng Mundo” -- performed by Kris Lawrence, with saxophone solo by Nicole Reluya, composed and arranged by Von De Guzman (“Nelia”)

• “Sigaw” -- performed by Joshua Ronett, composed by Emerzon Texon and Elmer Gatchalian, arranged by Emerzon Texon (“Gameboys, The Movie”)

• “Sundan Mo” -- performed and composed by Ron Solis, arranged by Jonathan Manalo (“Lockdown”)

• “Tanging Hiling” -- performed by Andi Abaya, music and lyrics by Henry Ong, arranged by Alvin Barcelona, Jeric Mison, and Mike Nuez (“Caught In The Act”)

S P E C I A L A W A R D S:

Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award
-- MS. HELEN GAMBOA

Ulirang Alagad Ng Pelikula Sa Likod Ng Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award
-- Director CHITO ROÑO

DARLING OF THE PRESS Nominees

• Gretchen Barretto
• Christian Bautista
• Mayor Joy Belmonte
• Liza Diño-Seguerra
• Niño Muhlach
• Piolo Pascual
• Alden Richards
• Alfred Vargas

MOVIE LOVETEAM OF THE YEAR

• Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano (Love Is Color Blind)
• Ken Chan and Rita Daniela (Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw)
• Jeremiah Lisbo and Kaori Oinuma (Love At First Stream)
• Andi Abaya and Joaquin Domagoso (Caught In The Act)
• JC Santos and Yassi Pressman (More Than Blue)
• Paolo Contis and Yen Santos (A Far Away Land)
• JC Santos and Janine Gutierrez (Dito At Doon)

Mell T. Navarro

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