For her portrayal of an aging prostitute looking for a fresh start in Louie Ignacio’s acclaimed drama “Area,” Ai-Ai delas Alas won her second straight Best Actress award on the international film festival circuit.
The actress, who made a name for herself as a sought-after television and film comedian, was named Best Actress by the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards last Saturday in Kuching, Malaysia. It is the second straight acting recognition for Ai-Ai, coming less than two months after she was named Best Female Actor for Narrative Feature for the same film at the Queens World Film Festival in New York.
Ai-Ai’s win leads a strong harvest of six major awards for the Philippine entries in the ASEAN film fest awards. Her film, which earlier won the Special Jury Prize in the Eurasia International Film Festival Friday at Almary, Kazakhstan last October, also won Best Director for Ignacio.
Filipino actors also swept the supporting acting categories as Ana Capri won Best Supporting Actress for her work in another Ignacio film, “Laut,” while seasoned character actor Ricky Davao won Best Supporting Actor for Bor Ocampo’s “Dayang Asu.”
Acclaimed indie filmmaker Lav Diaz won a Special Honour award for his latest work, “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” starring comebacking actress Charo Santos while fellow director Lawrence Fajardo, who started as a film editor, won Best Film Editing for his OFW drama, “Imbisibol.”
Now on its third year, the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards is designed to be a platform to promote ASEAN films in the international market.
The other Philippine entries in this year’s festival were Lem Lorca’s “Ned’s Project,” Zig Dulay’s “Paglipay,” Paolo Villaluna’s “Pauwi Na,” Derick Cabrido’s “Purgatoryo,” and Atom Magadia’s “Dagsin.”