Half a decade since its 2016 release, Jesuit Communications’ (JesCom) banner film, Ignacio de Loyola, continues to garner critical acclaim to this day.
The biopic chronicling the transformative journey of a once ambitious army captain into the charismatic founder of the Society of Jesus, bagged three titles at the Ave Maria Awards, held last Friday evening, December 10, 2021.
The Paolo Dy-directed film took home the coveted “Best Movie” nod, and topped the “Best Music Score” category. Madrid-born leading man Andreas Muñoz, who brought home the “Best Actor” plum for his portrayal of the legendary Jesuit saint, ably represented JesCom Productions during the awarding ceremony.
Broadcasted on El Sembrador TV and live-streamed via its official Facebook page (facebook.com/AveMariaFilmsProductions), the newly formed Ave Maria Awards seeks to “recognize the best of Catholic cinema across the world, in an effort to promote the work of spreading the Gospel, through use of the Seventh Art,” according to a report from ACI Prensa.
In the same report, Gaby Jácoba, director of the Festival Internacional de Cine Católico and the Ave Maria Awards’ main organizer, explained the overall vision behind her humble initiative.
“This will open a global call to boost new talents who have the dream, the desire, and the creativity to generate Catholic cinema, from whichever country in the world.”
From its successful July 23, 2016 premier that drew a standing ovation at the Solaire Theater, Ignacio de Loyola, went on to dominate the technical categories at the 35th Luna Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), winning Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Musical Score, and Best Sound.
In 2017, Ignacio made history as the first-ever Filipino production to win “Best Film” at the prestigious Mirabile Dictu International Film Festival at the Vatican. A box office hit in Latin America, particularly in Mexico, Ignacio also won the Audience Choice Award at the 12th Cine Con Valores Film Festival.
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Read the full ACI Prensa feature on the Ave Maria Awards:
