Mindanaoan film ‘Women of the Weeping River’ wins Best Picture at QCinema 2016

Director Sheron Dayoc's "Women of the Weeping River" on Wednesday took the top prize at the 2016 QCinema International Film Festival. 

The film was hailed Best Picture and cast members Laila Ulao and Taha Daranda received accolades as Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. 

Dayoc is a previous winner of the festival in the Best Documentary category for "The Crescent Rising." 

Like "The Crescent Rising", "Women of the Weeping River" focuses on Mindanao and the stories its people tell. Set in Zamboanga, the film follows the story of the widow Satra and her life after her husband's death. 

The film won "for bringing mother figures caught in inter-generational conflicts in Zamboanga to the scope of classic Greek tragedy, through tremendous talent in directing actors and capturing images through subtle, yet sharp framing."

Meanwhile, the Jaclyn Jose-starrer "Patay Na Si Hesus" won the festival's Gender Sensitivity and Audience Choice awards.

Check out the full list of winners:

Best Picture (Feature length): "Women of the Weeping River" (Sheron Dayoc)

Best Picture (Short film): "Hondo" (Aedrian Araojo)

NETPAC Jury Prize (Feature length): "Baboy Halas" (Bagane Fiola)

NETPAC Jury Prize (Short film): "Papa's Shadows" (Inshallah Montero)

Gender Sensitivity Award: Patay na si Hesus (Victor Villanueva)

Best Artistic Contribution - Cinematography: "Baboy Halas" (Raphael Meting & Mark Limbaga)

Best Director: Prime Cruz for "Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B"

Best Screenplay: Joseph Laban and Denise O'Hara for "Purgatoryo"

Best Actress: Laila Ulao for "Women of the Weeping River"

Best Supporting Actress: Vangie Labalan for "Ang Mananaggal sa Unit 23B"

Best Actor: JC de Vera for "Best. Partee. Ever."

Best Supporting Actor: Taha Daranda for "Women of the Weeping River"

Best Film - Asian Next Wave: "Apprentice" (Boo Junfeng, Singapore)

Special Citation - Asian Next Wave: "By The Time It Gets Dark" (Anocha Suwichakornpong, Thailand)

The QCinema International Festival runs from October 14 to 22 at Trinoma, UP Town Center, Gateway, and Robinsons Galleria. For more information, log on to qcinema.ph.  —JST, GMA News