It was another resounding success for “GomBurZa,” the multi-awarded historical film produced by JesCom Films and MQuest Ventures of MediaQuest, in cooperation with CMB Film Services, garnering two honors at the star-studded 72nd Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards ceremony held last May 26th, Sunday night at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel.
The “biggest historical film of the new decade” took home two trophies in the technical categories laid out by the oldest and most distinguished award-giving body for Filipino films. Carlo Canlas Mendoza, who finished his MFA in Cinematography at the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, was awarded with “Best Cinematography.” Meanwhile, Teresa Barrozo, a seasoned sound artist and composer, as well as a recipient of the Ani ng Dangal Award from the Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts, was hailed for “Best Musical Score.”
Adding to “GomBurZa’s” accolades was the special recognition of Mr. Dante Rivero as the “Iconic Movie Actor of Philippine Cinema,” a fitting tribute to the silver screen idol of the 1970s who had been previously honored by the Philippine Movie Press Club with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The 77-year-old Rivero commanded respect and adulation for his distinguished portrayal of Padre Mariano Gomes, the oldest and most venerable among the iconic trio of martyr priests that included prolific writer and doctorate degree-holder Padre José Burgo and Padre Jacinto Zamora, who at the time of his death, was reading for a doctorate in canon law at the University of Santo Tomas.
Apart from its triple victory that evening, “GomBurZa” received ten other prestigious FAMAS nominations including the coveted ‘Best Picture’ nod, followed by ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Actor’ for Jose Lorenzo “Pepe” Diokno and Cedrick Juan, respectively. “GomBurZa” was also nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ (Enchong Dee), ‘Best Screenplay’ (Rody Vera and Pepe Diokno), ‘Best Editing’ (Benjamin Tolentino), and ‘Best Production Design’ (Ericson Navarro).
“GomBurZa” also garnered additional nominations for ‘Best Sound’ (Albert Michael Idioma, Emilio Bien Sparks, Janina Minglanilla), ‘Best Visual Effects’ (Good Take Media Productions), and ‘Best Original Song’ (Sa Duyan ng Bayan).
In a Facebook post, leading man Cedrick Juan, whose remarkable portrayal of Padre José Burgos earned him the “Best Actor” nod at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival, where “GomBurZa” emerged as the most-awarded entry, voiced his admiration and appreciation for the immense dedication of both his castmates and the film’s crew, that led to its messages of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice being shared to Filipinos across the country and around the world.
“Being nominated for Best Actor at this year’s 72nd FAMAS awards alongside actors I admire was truly an honor! Congratulations to all the winners,” expressed the theater-trained star.
“Sa pamilya ng GomBurZa, pinangarap lang natin noon na mapanood tayo ng bawat Pilipino. Ang mga karangalan at mga parangal ay nagsisilbing indikasyon kung gaano natin ibinuhos ang ating puso at kaluluwa para sa pagkilala sa tatlong paring martir. Alay sa ating kasaysayan at mga Pilipino noon, ngayon at sa mga susunod pa na mga henerasyon.”
“Salamat, FAMAS Awards,” he concluded.
