Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 27) — “Mindanao,” a drama flick that made waves internationally, emerged as the big winner at the Metro Manila Film Festival on Friday night even as screenings of the film grew scarcer, with cinemas opting for movies with better box office appeal.

The film bagged best picture and eight other awards, including a citation for Brillante Ma. Mendoza as best director.

Mindanao’s lead actors, Allen Dizon, Judy Ann Santos and Yuna Tangog, all received awards for their performances in the film.

Dizon and Santos each received ₱200,000 for winning the Best Actor and the Best Actress awards, respectively. Santos joked that she and Dizon would combine their prizes so that their film can earn.

Mindanao also bagged the awards for best sound, best visual effects and best float. It also received the Gen. Antonio Villegas Cultural Award and the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award.

Romantic comedy “Write About Love,” is the MMFF’s second best picture, which bagged seven awards, including best screenplay.

Joem Bascon and Yeng Constantino, who starred in the film, were hailed as best supporting actor and actress, respectively.

Despite Mindanao’s award haul, cinemas have begun pulling it from screens as they opt to show blockbusters from the festival, like Vice Ganda’s comedy “The Mall, The Merrier,” which did not receive any awards.

“Ang hiling lang po sana namin ay mabigyan pa kami ng sinehan bukas,” Mendoza said after accepting Mindanao’s award for Best Picture.

[Translation: Our only wish is for us to get more cinemas tomorrow.]

Santos echoed his call, saying, “Bilang kaunti lang po ang sinehan namin, pakidamihan naman po,”

[Translation: Since we only have a few cinemas, can we please have a bit more?]

Mindanao will only be showing at nine SM cinemas tomorrow, two Ayala cinemas and only one Robinsons cinema on Saturday.

“Nakakalungkot naman ang asal ng karamihan ng sinehan sa Pinas! ‘Wag naman tayo puro sa pera lang kasi ‘di naman natin madadala sa hukay ‘yan!” said comedian Pokwang, who is part of the cast of MMFF entry Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity.

[Translation: The attitude of most cinemas in the Philippines is so sad! Let’s not just think about money because we can’t take that to the grave!]

She appealed to the Metro Manila Development Authority, which spearheads the MMFF, to have a dialogue with cinemas to prioritize films like Mindanao and Culion.

“‘Wag ninyong alisin at burahin sa isipan ng henerasyon ngayon ang kwento ng ating lahi! History ‘yan, ika nga, ano ba kayo?” she said, appealing for movies like Mindanao and Culion not to be immediately pulled from screens.

[Translation: Do not remove and erase from today’s generation the stories of our nation! That’s history, what the heck!]

The MMFF runs until January 7. MMDA General Manager Danilo Lim announced during the award ceremony that the annual film festival which begins on Christmas Day would get a counterpart during the summer.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Picture

Mindanao

2nd Best Picture

Write About Love

3rd Best Picture

Sunod

Best Director

Brillante Mendoza (Mindanao)

Best Actor

Allen Dizon (Mindanao)

Best Actress

Judy Anne Santos (Mindanao)

Best Supporting Actor

Joem Bascon (Write About Love)

Best Supporting Actress

Yeng Constantino (Write About Love)

Best Child Performer

Yuna Tangog (Mindanao)

Best Screenplay

Write About Love

Best Float

Mindanao

Jury Prize Student Short Film

Bronze-Silver Anting-Anting

De La Salle Integrated School Manila

Special Jury Prizes

The cast of Culion

Crisanto Aquino (Write About Love)

Female Star of the Night

Carmina Villaroel

Male Star of the Night

Aga Muhlach

Gender Sensitivity Award

Mindanao

Best Float

Mindanao

Best Student Short Film

Pamana ni Lola

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Best Sound

Mindanao

Best Musical Score

Write About Love

Best Original Song

Write About Love

Best Visual Effects

Mindanao

Best Production Design

Sunod

Best Editing

Write About Love

Best Cinematography

Sunod

Gen. Antonio Villegas Cultural Award

Mindanao

Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award

Mindanao

MMFF Hall of Fame Awards

Best Sound Engineer

Ditoy Aguila

Michael Idioma

Rolly Ruta

Best Musical Score

Dionisio Buencamino

Von de Guzman

Jaime Fabregas

Jessie Lasaten

Best Cinematography

Rudy Lacap

Carlo Mendoza

Romy Vitug

Lee Meily

Best Editing

Vito Cajili

Manet Dayrit

Jess Navarro

Edgard Vinarao

Best Visual Effects

Road Runner Network Inc.

Best Art Director

Rodel Cruz

Joel Luna

Best Screenplay

Roy Iglesias

Ricky Lee

Jose Javier Reyes

Best Director

Marilou Diaz Abaya

Joel Lamangan

Jose Javier Reyes

Best Supporting Actress

Eugene Domingo

Cherie Gil

Best Actor

Anthony Alonzo

Christopher de Leon

Cesar Montano

Best Actress

Nora Aunor

Vilma Santos

Amy Austria

Maricel Soriano