2024 International Film Festival Manhattan Winners

Special Awards: Honoring Jose Rizal’s Legacy

In partnership with the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, four finalists of the Jose Rizal Short Film Contest were honored during the awards night.

• Winner:
  “Sandig (Lean On)” – Director: Roveh Tondo, Alan Filoteo (Philippines)
  Award: Original Dr. Jose Rizal plaque bust by Direk Fritz Silorio
• Honorable Mentions:
• • “Amor Propio” – Director: Rain Ramas (Philippines)
  • “Pepe 1896” – Directors: Philip Dipasupil, Frederick Claveria (Philippines)
  • “Pamana ni Pepe” – Director: Jayson Pabalan (Philippines)

Additional Honorable Mentions:

• Actress Frenz Oria – “Sandig (Lean On)” (Philippines)
• Actress Yuna Casino – “Boss Ko Si Mommy” (UAE)
• Other Films: “Monday,” “Dreamweaver,” “Who’s Afraid of Shorty Virginia,” “Sound of Hope” (USA), “Shuhari” (Japan)

Lifetime Achievement Awards

IFFM NYC honored industry professionals for significant contributions:

• Junior Lifetime Achievement Awardees:
• • Alan Filoteo (Filmmaking, Philippines)
  • Mark Sicat de la Cruz (TV Directing, Philippines)
  • MJ Racadio (PR/Marketing/Singer, USA)
• Lifetime Achievement Awardees:
• • Bob Hopkins (Philanthropy/Education, USA)
  • Roberta Pazi (Acting, Italy)

Festival Director’s Awards

IFFM NYC’s Festival Director Luis Pedron, a Most Influential Filipino American (75 MIFA) awardee, recognized the following achievements:

• Independent Achievement in Filmmaking:
• • Noman Robin – “Mighty Eighty” (USA/Bangladesh)
  • Rain Ramas – “Amor Propio” (Philippines)
• Independent Achievement in Producing:
• • Amanda Troisi – “Caterpillar” (USA)
  • Rolito Nino Chan Jr. – “Boss Ko Si Mommy” (UAE)
• Best Directors:
• • David S. Lindgren – “The Bicycle Store” (Sweden)
  • Kyle Damiao – “A Picture of My Heart” (USA)

Jury Prize Winners

• Best Cinematography: Ian McGar – “Relieve” (USA)
• Best Student Film: “Jiro” – Director: Earhart Nehemiah Capulong Dilodilo, Production Manager: Krissie Kae Cabangon Cunanan (Philippines)
• Best Actor: Matthias Silvell – “Dieselheart” (Sweden)
• Best Actress: Anna Carvalho – “Relieve” (USA), Amalia Holm – “Dieselheart” (Sweden)
• Best Ensemble Acting: Actors of “Children of the Valley” (UK)
• Best Screenwriting: Oscar Gidefjord – “Dieselheart” (Sweden)

Best Short Films

• Europe: “Dieselheart” – Director: Oscar Gidefjord (Sweden)
• Asia and Pacific: “Risen” – Director: Tony Radevski, Producer: Peter Ireland (Australia)
• USA: “Dummy” – Director: Lukas Hassel (USA)
• Grand Prize (Best of the Best): “4 Estações” – Director: Carlos Coelho Costa (Portugal)

Other Recognitions

• Best Documentary: “Siete Palabras” – Director: Jayson Pabalan (Philippines)
• Best Feature Film: “Broken Pieces” – Director: Justin Ho (USA)

Professional Jury Prizes

• Bronze Awards:
• • “Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin” – Music Video (Artist: MJ Racadio)
  • “Sagip Ka” (Philippines) – Infomercial and Music Video
  • “Pepe 1896” – Directors: Philip Dipasupil, Frederick Claveria (Philippines)
  • “Don’t You Know” – Director: Antonio Reyes (USA)
• Silver Awards:
• • “Pilipinas Ang Bayan Ko” – Director: Jayson Pabalan (Philippines)
  • “Brooke Josephson – Good Kinda Tired” – Director: Michelle Bossy (USA)