MANILA - Iza Calzado went home victorious on Sunday after being named Best Actress at the 34th Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies held at the Newport Peforming Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.
Calzado was recognized for her performance in the movie “Bliss,” a psychological thriller by “Heneral Luna” director Jerold Tarog.
She bested out other actresses in the same category such as Kim Chiu, Sharon Cuneta, Alessandra De Rossi, Agot Isidro, Bela Padilla, Maja Salvador, and Jodi Sta. Maria.
"Ako po ay nanalo sa ibang bansa para sa pelikulang Bliss pero iba po ang manalo sa sarili mong bayan at pahalagahan ka ng kapwa mo Pilipino. I hope I can continue to use this talent and platform to bring light to the world," she said in her acceptance speech.
"I would like to share this award to all the other nominees for movie actress of the year. Star Awards means a lot to me. I grew up watching this because my father would always be part of Star Awards. It means so much to me that I finally won and a major award at that," Calzado added.
"Bliss" made its premiere in March last year at the 2017 Osaka Asian Film Festival, where Calzado was awarded the prestigious Yakushi Pearl Award for her performance. It also stars Ian Veneracion.
A synopsis for "Bliss" reads: "Jane Ciego (Iza Calzado) started acting in showbiz at a young age. Now in her 30s, she decides to produce her own film to win some respect in the industry."
"But things do not go as planned and an accident on location cripples her. Jane wakes up unable to walk and trapped in her own home, a large house filled with strange sounds and people who may want to harm her."
"She is looked over by her cold husband Carlo and a sadistic nurse named Lilibeth, and then there is Rose, a nurse wanted by authorities for sexually molesting a patient."
"She mysteriously enters Jane’s life and soon begins affecting her dreams as much as her waking life. Jane’s sanity begins to crumble as the horrors pile up in a symphony of blood, tears and madness. What was supposed to be a simple dream for Jane soon becomes an endless nightmare."
Meanwhile, here are the other winners of the 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies:
New Movie Actor of the Year – Mccoy de Leon (Instalado) and Matteo San Juan (Magkadugo)
New Movie Actress of the Year – Pia Wurtzbach (Revenger Squad) and Joanna Ampil (Ang Larawan)
Movie Child Performer of the Year – Marco Masa (Tatlong Bibe) and Julio Cesar Sabenorio (Guerrero)
Movie Screenwriter of the Year – Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita Kita)
Movie Cinematographer of the Year – Odyssey Flores (Siargao)
Movie Editor of the Year – Marya Ignacio (Kita Kita)
Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year – Lilit Reyes and Vincent de Jesus (Changing Partners)
Indie Movie Cinematographer of the Year – Mycko David (Birdshot)
Indie Movie Editor of the Year – Marya Ignacio (Changing Partners)
Indie Movie Musical Scorer for the Year- Vincent de Jesus (Changing Partners)
Indie Movie Sound Engineer of the Year– Mikko Quizon (Bliss)
Movie Sound Engineer of the Year – Albert Micheal Idioma (The Ghost Bride)
Indie Movie Original Theme Song of the Year – “Respeto” (from the movie Respeto) interpreted by Abra and Loonie
Movie Original Theme Song of the Year – “Natapos Tayo” (from the movie All Of You) interpreted by Nar Cabico
Indie Movie Production of the Year – Michael Espanol (Birdshot)
Movie Production Designer of the Year – Benjamin Padero and Carlo Tabije (Siargao)
Movie Supporting Actor of the Year – Arnold Reyes (Birdshot)
Movie Supporting Actress of the Year – Odette Khan (Bar Boys)
Movie Love Team of the Year – Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto
Darling of the Press – Harlene Bautista
Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Award – Gina Alajar
Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera – Tikoy Aguiluz
Male Star of the Night – Xian Lim
Female Star of the Night – Kim Chiu and Joyce Pilarsky
Faces of the Night – Joshua Garcia and Celeste Legaspi
Indie Movie Director of the Year – Dan Villegas (Changing Partners)
Movie Director of the Year – Sigrid Andrea Bernardo (Kita Kita)
Movie Actor of the Year – Raymond Francisco (Bhoy Intsik)
Movie Actress of the Year – Iza Calzado (Bliss)
Indie Movie of the Year – Changing Partners
Movie of the Year – Kita Kita
