Best Films and Annual Citation for 2021

By Bernard Santos

Here's the annual citation and rundown of my own pick of best Filipino films for 2021 that have shown from streaming applications, film festivals, theatrical runs and special screening.

Honorable Mention

17. Sa Haba ng Gabi (Full Review)

16. Taya (Full Review)

15. More Than Blue (Full Review)

14. Nerisa (Full Review)

13. A Girl and A Guy (Full Review)

12. Gameboys The Movie (Full Review)

11. Hello Stranger The Movie (Full Review)

10. The Other Wife

A well made local sexy thriller film with roller coaster of emotion that sets decent build up from start until it reach its surprise climax in the end.

(Full Review)

9. Love at First Stream

Love at First Stream is relatable, full of fresh vibes, timely and heartwarming. This is what I miss watching on a big screen. A natural romcom that you can't deny to feel kilig while watching and as what it said on the film #CGMagic.

(Full Review)

8. Love is Color Blind

Love is Color Blind is the good balance of romance drama and kilig feels. It is a right fit film to launch the hottest love team of this generation. I love DonBelle in this film. Aside from the fact that the two have chemistry, they shine individually as an actor and actress.

(Full Review)

7. Rabid

Rabid shines for being bizarre, on point and interesting. I like the film as it is not the typical Filipino horror film that you have seen before.

(Full Review)

6. Dito at Doon

Dito at Doon is an epitome of a love story in time of quarantine. It is well written, very timely, relatable and the feels are overflowing.

(Full Review)

5. A Hard Day

A Hard Day is a solid entertaining action film. It's been a while since I saw a Filipino action film that I truly enjoy and keep me interested from start to finish. The Philippine adaptation from director Lawrence Fajardo was done in good taste.

(Full Review)

4. My Amanda

My Amanda is a beautiful love story. It is a heartwarming journey of love, friendship, and self worth. Piolo and Alessandra just act naturally and feels like you are just watching real friends in a film.

(Full Review)

3. Big Night!

The subject matter is serious and relevant but they were able to execute the film with fun and entertaining content. Big Night! showcase the acting of Christian Bables which is a strong contender for Best Actor who plays gay again for this film but he's been able to give a different approach and embodied and make his own character for Dharna.

(Full Review)

2. Arisaka

Finally a good Filipino film this 2021. Arisaka is a well made Filipino revenge survival genre. It shines with is good cinematography, detailed production design, effective sound design and great performance from the cast.

(Full Review)

1. Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Kun Maupay Man It Panahon might be bizarre in the way it tells the story but stands out with the heart and message of the film.

(Full Review)

Best Picture

Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                                  2. Arisaka
                                  3. Big Night!
                                  4. My Amanda
                                  5. A Hard Day

Honorable Mention

                                  6. Dito at Doon
                                  7. Rabid
                                  8. Love is Color Blind
                                  9. Love at First Stream
                                  10. The Other Wife

Best Actress

Lovi Poe - The Other Wife

Runners-Up

                           2. Maja Salvador - Arisaka
                           3. Charo Santos Concio - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon
                           4. Janine Gutierrez - Dito at Doon
                           5. Belle Mariano - Love is Color Blind

Honorable Mention

                           6. Jay Valencia Glorioso - Rabid
                           7. Alessandra De Rossi - My Amanda
                           8. Wynwyn Marquez - Nelia
                           9. Rita Daniela - Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw

10. Daniela Stranner - Love at First Stream

Best Actor

Daniel Padilla - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                        2. Christian Bables - Big Night!
                        3. Dingdong Dantes - A Hard Day
                        4. JC Santos - Dito At Doon
                        5. Paolo Gumabao - Lockdown

Honorable Mention

                        6. Donny Pangilinan - Love is Color Blind
                        7. Piolo Pascual - My Amanda
                        8. Anthony Jennings - Love at First Stream
                        9. JC Alcantara - Hello Stranger The Movie

10. Joem Bascon - The Other Wife

Best Director

Carlo Franciso Manatad - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                       2. Mikhail Red - Arisaka
                       3. Jun Lana - Big Night!
                       4. Lawrence Fajardo - A Hard Day
                       5. Alessandra De Rossi - My Amanda

Honorable Mention

                       6. JP Habac - Dito at Doon
                       7. Erik Matti - Rabid
                       8. John Leo Garcia - Love is Color Blind
                       9. Cathy Garcia Molina - Love at First Stream

10. Prime Cruz - The Other Wife

Best Supporting Actress

Rans Rifol - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                           2. Shella Mae Romualdo - Arisaka
                           3. Janice De Belen - Big Night!
                           4. Eugene Domingo - Big Night!
                           5. Sheree - Nerisa

Honorable Mention

                           6. Rhen Escaño - The Other Wife
                           7. Gillian Vicencio - Hello Stranger The Movie
                           8. Jaclyn Jose - The Housemaid
                           9. Louise Delos Reyes - The Housemaid

10. Cataleya Surio - Versus

Best Supporting Actor

John Arcilla - A Hard Day

Runners-Up

                            2. Soliman Cruz - Big Night!
                            3. John Arcilla - Big Night!
                            4. Jim Pebanco - Lockdown
                            5. Nico Antonio - Big Night!

Honorable Mention

                            6. Mon Confiado - Arisaka
                            7. Victor Anastacio - Dito at Doon
                          8. Jeremiah Lisbo - Love At First Stream
                            9. Kent Gonzales - Rabid

10. Noel Comia Jr. - Versus

Best Screenplay

Jun Robles Lana - Big Night!

Runners-Up

                2. Kristin Parreño Barrameda & Alex Gonzales - Dito at Doon
                3. Mikhail Red & Anton Santamaria - Arisaka
                4. Alessandra de Rossi - My Amanda
                5. Giancarlo Abrahan, Jérémie Dubois & Carlo Francisco Manatad - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Honorable Mention

                6. Kristine Gabriel, Simon A. Arciaga & Tammy Bejerano - Love is Color Blind
                7. Cathy Garcia-Molina, Kookai Labayen & Ella A. Palileo - Love at First Stream
                8. Leovic Arceta, Mary Rose Colindres & Michiko Yamamoto - Rabid
                9. Cenon Palomares & Ricky Lee - Nerisa

10. Byron Bryant & Lawrence Fajardo - Mahjong Nights

Best Cinematography

Mycko David - Arisaka

Runners-Up

                 2. Teck Siang Lim - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon
                 3. Boy Yniguez - My Amanda
                 4. Joshua Reyles - Nerisa
                 5. Jao Daniel Elamparo - Palitan

Honorable Mention

                 6. Kara Moreno - Dito at Doon
                 7. TM Malones - Huwag Kang Lalabas
                 8. Carlo Mendoza - Big Night!
                 9. Cesca Lee - Love is Color Blind

10. Dan Villegas - Love at First Stream

Best Production Design

Whammy Alcazaren - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                      2. Eero Yves Francisco - Arisaka
                      3. Lawrence Fajardo - Nerisa
                      4. John Cris Catiggay - Taya
                      5. Arthur Maningas - Huwag Kang Lalabas

Honorable Mention

                      6. Paul Infante - My Amanda
                      7. Maolen Fadul - Big Night!
                      8. Marielle Hizon - Dito at Doon

Best Editing

Lawrence Fajardo - A Hard Day

Runners-Up

                       2. Renard Torres - Dito at Doon
                       3. Nikolas Red - Arisaka
                       4. Renard Torres - The Other Wife

5. Marya Ignacio - Love is Color Blind

Honorable Mention

                       6. Benjo Ferrer - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon
                       7. Benjamin Tolentino - Big Night!
                       8. Mica Roca - Rabid
                       9. Chrisel Galeno-Desuasido - Taya

10. Marya Ignacio - Love at First Stream

Best Musical Score

Andrew R. Florentino - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                     2. Teresa Barrozo - Big Night!
                     3. Myka Magsaysay & Paul Sigua - Arisaka
                     4. Cesar Francis Concio & Jessie Lasaten - Love at First Stream
                         5. The Storyteller Project - My Amanda

Best Theme Song

Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin - Ben & Ben - Dito at Doon

Runners-Up

                    2. Hanggang Sa Huli - SB19 - Gameboys The Movie
                    3. Paraluman Adie - Paraluman
                    4. No Stopping You SB19 - Love at First Stream
                         5. Hatid - Kim Molina & Jerald Napoles - Ikaw At Ako At Ang Ending

Honorable Mention

                    6. Through The Fire - Chaka Khan - My Amanda
                    7. Magnet - Aubrey Caraan - Ang Manananggal Na Nahahati Ang Puso
                    8. Kahit Kailan - Hans Paronda & Edsel - More Than Blue
                    9. Rita Daniela - Umulan Man o Umaraw - Huling Ulan Sa Tag-Araw

10. Dito - The Juans - Dito

Best Sound

ProMovi Studios - Arisaka

Runners-Up

                 2. Albert Michael Idioma - A Hard Day
                 3. Roman Dymny - Kun Maupay Man It Panahon
                 4. Immanuel Verona - Big Night!

Best Poster

Kun Maupay Man It Panahon

Runners-Up

                                           2. Big Night!
                                           3. Hello Stranger The Movie
                                           4. Paglaki Ko Gusto Ko Maging Pornstar
                                           5. The Other Wife

Honorable Mention

                                           6. Revirginized
                                           7. Love at First Stream
                                           8. Love is Color Blind
                                           9. More Than Blue

10. My Husband My Lover

Best Ensemble

Big Night!
Kun Maupay Man It Panahon
Rabid

Best Short Film

Kids on Fire - Kyle Nieva

Runners-Up

                    2. How To Die Young In Manila - Petersen Vargas
                    3. Filipiñana - Rafael Manuel
                    4. Maski Papano - Glenn Barit

5. Sa Balay ni Papang - Kurt Soberano

Honorable Mention

                    6. Looking For Rafflesias and Other Fleeting Things - James Fajardo
                    7. Black Rainbow - Zig Dulay
                    8. Dandansoy - Arden Rod Condez
                    9. Hadlok - Ralston Jover

10. Mighty Robo V - Miko Livelo & Mihk Vergara

Best Online Series