Cebu film sweeps Gawad Urian awards

CEBUANO independent movie “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” won four of  the 34th Gawad Urian awards held in the Marriot Hotel in Resorts World Manila on Tuesday night.

Director Rentom Suazola won best director.

The movie, shot in Olango Island located off mainland Mactan Island, also won Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Music.

“Ang Damgo” tells the  story of a woman named Eleuteria or Terya who  was leaving for Germany to marry a rich old man, as her mother agreed with a recruiter.

“I am very happy that our film won,” said Gregg Tecson who was a best supporting actor nominee for his role in the film.

“I was very nervous but it’s okay that (I)  did not win an award because our film won many.”

Tecson lost to Joem Bascon of the Indi-film “Noy,” which starred Coco Martin. He said he was hopeful for  bigger acting opportunities.

He said that being in the local movie industry was not easy because of the lack of support from advertisers and the viewing public.

Tecson, a former security guard, had to secure financial assistance from the Cebu City Council to attend the awards.

Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa passed a resolution during the council’s May 11 session to authorize release of P15,000 financial assistance to Tecson.

Tecson said the city did not release the cash immediately but  would refund his travel expenditures.

He said he borrowed money from Suazola for his plane ticket and  stayed with Suazola in a friend’s apartment to save travel costs.

The movie’s cast and crew led by Suazola left for Manila on Monday night and returned to Cebu yesterday afternoon.