The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (transl. Filipino Film Critics), a film critic organization composed of critics, writers, and scholars. It is the regarded as the highest award for a film given by critics in the Philippines and is seen as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.[1][2]

Gawad Urian Awards
Current: 47th Gawad Urian Awards
Awarded forOutstanding achievements in Filipino cinema
CountryPhilippines
Presented byManunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino
First awarded1977

The name "Gawad Urian" is from Tagalog terms urian (a standard for gold) and gawad (award). It is the only major award-giving body in the Philippines to use the vernacular in awards shows and in the presentation of the awards. The official name for the Best Film category is Pinakamahusay na Pelikula, for example.[3]

History

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Filipino Film Critics
Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino
AbbreviationMPP
NicknameManunuri
Formation1976
TypeFilm criticism
Location
  • Philippines
Official language
Filipino
President
Rolando Tolentino
Websitemanunuripelikula.com

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino was formed by a host of scholars, film writers and other award-winning writers on May 1, 1976, as a critics' voice to rival the then-only award-giving body in the Philippines, which is its Oscars, the FAMAS Awards. Three years earlier, what would be the members of the Manunuri were included in the judges' roster of the FAMAS after a shocking 1972 Best Actress tie materialized between major star Boots Anson-Roa and then-rising star Vilma Santos. A tie was unheard of at that time, which resulted in accusations of lessening prestige on the part of FAMAS. After a voting stint at the FAMAS, these future Manunuri members set up the Gawad Urian Awards.

The Gawad Urian Awards were established to "examine Filipino films, bolster the interest of the masses and the Philippine film industry, study and celebrate the achievement that will help define the good Filipino film, and cultivate the knowledge and skills that the film medium was designed for, which is to be a medium of communication and expression of our culture according to the standards and conditions of filmmaking in our country."[3]

It then went on to become one of the most prestigious film award-giving bodies in the Philippines. Unlike the other award-giving bodies in the country, it has never been tainted with any accusations of vote buying or scandals. This distinction made the Gawad Urian a highly coveted award in the Philippine film industry that is only given to the most deserved winners.[4]

The Gawad Urian is known for its infamous ties. At a time when the Filipino award-giving bodies were adamant about awarding ties after the FAMAS rock-up in 1972, the Gawad Urian has given ties in the Best Film category (3 ties), Best Screenplay category (1), Best Actress category (6) and Best Supporting Actress category (2), a dozen ties all in all. It is also known for awarding several lesser-known films produced by small independent production companies. In 2004, Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino, a landmark Filipino drama, was awarded Pinakamahusay na Pelikula (Best Film) by Gawad Urian, while it did not receive a single nomination from any award-giving body that year.

In 1988, the awards for the films of 1987 were not held because the Manunuri deemed that there was a "lack of deserving winners," which was a first in Filipino awards history.

In 2006, the Gawad Urian became the first award-giving body in the Philippine to welcome digital films into competition. Its nominees were swamped with achievement from digital films that year, which prompted the other award-giving bodies to include digital films in its roster of nominations the next year.

Awards ceremonies

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Ceremony Date Best Film Lifetime Achievement Award
1st 1977 Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? Manuel de Leon (producer)
2nd 1978 Hubad na Bayani Gerardo de Leon (director)
3rd 1979 Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak Manuel Conde (director, producer)
4th 1980 Jaguar Manuel Silos (director)
5th 1981 Manila by Night Lamberto Avellana (director)
6th 1982 Salome Anita Linda (actress)
7th 1983 Oro Plata Mata Luis Nolasco (director, writer)
8th 1984 Broken Marriage Mike Accion (cinematographer)
9th 1985 Sister Stella L William Smith (sound engineer)
10th 1986 Kapit sa Patalim Tito Arévalo (actor)
11th 1987 Takaw Tukso Rosa Rosal (actress)
12th 1989 Itanong Mo sa Buwan Not awarded
13th 1990 Pahiram ng Isang Umaga Richard Aberlardo (director)
14th 1991 Gumapang Ka sa Lusak Susana de Guzman
15th 1992 Ipagpatawad Mo Mary Walter (actress)
16th 1993 Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal Levi Celerio (film score composer)
17th 1994 Makati Ave. Office Girls Leopoldo Salcedo (actor)
18th April 29, 1995 The Fatima Buen Story Eddie Romero (director)
19th May 11, 1996 Sana Maulit Muli Pancho Magalona (actor)
20th May 10, 1997 Segurista Felipe Sacdalan (cinematographer)
21st March 28, 1998 MIlagros Dolphy (actor)
22nd March 28, 1999 Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? Mona Lisa (actress)
23rd March 11, 2000 Bayaning Third World Nida Blanca (actress)
24th March 24, 2001 Tuhog Manahan sisters (makeup artists)
25th May 11, 2002 Batang West Side Fernando Poe, Jr. (actor)
26th May 17, 2003 Dekada ’70 Ricardo Lee (screenwriter)
27th June 19, 2004 Babae sa Breakwater Gloria Romero (actress)
28th June 4, 2005 Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino Jess Navarro (editor)
29th August 3, 2006 Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros Eddie Garcia (actor, director)
30th September 13, 2007 Kubrador Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda (producer)
31st October 1, 2008 Tirador Kidlat Tahimik (director)
32nd September 19, 2009 Serbis Peque Gallaga (director)
33rd April 29, 2010 Kinatay Armida Siguion-Reyna (actress, producer)
34th May 17, 2011 Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria Jose Lacaba (screenwriter)
35th June 13, 2012 Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa Rody Lacap (cinematographer)
36th June 18, 2013 Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim Mila del Sol (actress)
37th June 17, 2014 Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan Mike de Leon (director)
38th June 16, 2015 Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon Nora Aunor (actress)
39th June 22, 2016 Taklub Romy Vitug (cinematographer)
40th July 20, 2017 Women of the Weeping River Vilma Santos (actress)
41st June 14, 2018 Balangiga: Howling Wilderness Winston Raval (film score composer)
42nd June 18, 2019 BuyBust Gloria Sevilla (actress)
43rd November 10, 2020 Babae at Baril Fiel Corrales Zabat (production designer)
44th October 21, 2021 Aswang Lav Diaz (director)
45th October 27, 2022 On the Job: The Missing 8 and Big Night! (tie) Roxlee (animator)
46th November 30, 2023 Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon Jaime Fábregas (actor, film score composer)
47th June 8, 2024 Iti Mapukpukaw Hilda Koronel (actress)

Award categories

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Vilma Santos is Gawad Urian's most decorated thespian. She won awards in the Best Actress (1982, 1983, 1984), Actress of the Decade (1980s), and a Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a Best Film (1979) as a producer.

Current categories

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  • Pinakamahusay na Pelikula (Best Film)
  • Pinakamahusay na Direksyon (Best Direction)
  • Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor (Best Actor)
  • Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres (Best Actress)
  • Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor (Best Supporting Actor)
  • Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres (Best Supporting Actress)
  • Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula (Best Screenplay)
  • Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya (Best Cinematography)
  • Pinakamahusay na Disenyong Pamproduksyon (Best Production Design)
  • Pinakamahusay na Editing (Best Editing)
  • Pinakamahusay na Musika (Best Music)
  • Pinakamahusay na Tunog (Best Sound)
  • Pinakamahusay na Maikling Pelikula (Best Short Film)
  • Pinakamahusay na Dokyumentaryo (Best Documentary)

Honorary awards

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  • Natatanging Gawad Urian (Lifetime Achievement Award) – for film artisans whose contributions have helped shape the Filipino film industry.
  • Ginintuang Gawad Urian (Golden Urian Award) – given by the Manunuri to Mike de Leon in 1992, the first and the last time the award was given out.

Decades lists

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Best Films of the Decade

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Every end of a decade, the Manunuri publishes a list called Mga Natatanging Pelukula ng Dekada which recognizes the best films of the decade.

1970s

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1980s

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1990s

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2000s

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2010s

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1970 - 1999

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Best Actors and Actresses of the Decade

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The Mga Natatanging Aktor at Aktres ng Dekada awards are given every first year of the decade to actors and actresses who had made outstanding works in the past decade. The artists named on these lists are also honored during that year's awards ceremony. Nora Aunor is the only performer, male or female, to receive the award in three different decades.

References

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  1. ^ "What a difference a Gawad Urian makes". The Manila Times. July 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Tejero, Constantino (March 26, 2002). "Film awards should be taken with a liberal grain of salt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. E2. The New York Film Critics Circle would more likely be the Gawad Urian of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
  3. ^ a b "Gawad Urian". Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP). January 17, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2023. The stone used in this measurement of the value of gold is called "urian."
  4. ^ "Who cares about movie awards?". PEP.ph. Retrieved August 11, 2023. Unlike others, Gawad Urian has not been tainted by any controversy, like vote-buying or politicking.
  5. ^ "Critics honour the actors of the decade". BusinessMirror. October 14, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
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