John Lloyd Cruz wins best actor for 'Moneyslapper' in QCinema 2024

John Lloyd Cruz brought home the Best Lead Performance award or the equivalent of best actor in this year's QCinema International Film Festival for his role in Bor Ocampo's "Moneyslapper."

The veteran actor played Daniel, a young man who won the biggest lottery prize and left his hometown to enjoy his sudden wealth. He returned after years of leading an epicurean life around the world to confront the demons he left behind.

The award giving body described his performance as a "fearless portrayal" that brought "depth and intensity to the film's dark humor and unconventional social critique."

"Moneyslapper" competed in the Asian Next Wave, the main competition category in the festival.

In an earlier message to GMA News Online, Cruz said being shown in QCinema is something he and the "Moneyslapper" team will always be thankful for, given the struggles it went through. Cruz is co-creative producer of the film that started being conceptualized in 2016.

When they finally shot it in 2022, they submitted it to the annual Metro Manila Film Festival but was rejected twice.

Cruz said in jest during the radio interview why wait to be rejected for the third time. He and his team submitted it to QCinema and the rest is history.

The same top actor plum or Best Lead Performance award went to Indonesian actress Shenina Cinnamon in "Tale of the Land." She played May, a Dayak girl who has not stepped on land for a decade, has lost her parents over a land conflict, and has since been living in a floating house with an old man who saved her life.

The 12th edition of QCinema International Film Festival will run until Sunday, November 17, at Gateway Cineplex, Shangri-La Plaza Mall Red Carpet cinema, Robinson's Magnolia, Trinoma, and Powerplant Mall.

The awarding ceremony was held at Novotel Tent on November 14.

Also in the Asian Next Wave, the winner of the Best Picture Award is "Viet and Nam" by director Truong Minh Quy.

It tells the story of Nam and Viet (Pham Thanh Hai and Dao Duy Bao Dinh), who work together in a coal mine and find respite from their dangerous work in each other's arms.

The Vietnam-set film premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard and is produced by Epic Media, with co-production by the Philippines, Vietnam and some European countries.

Another Vietnamese filmmaker, Duong Dieu Linh, won the Grand Jury Prize for her debut, "Don't Cry Butterfly." The film tells about a middle-aged wife who discovers that her husband is having an affair and embarks on a mystical journey to seek a better life elsewhere.

The documentary "Mistress Dispeller" won the Best Director award for Elizabeth Lo. It is the first documentary entry in the Asian Next Wave competition.

The Best Screenplay award was given to "Happyend" by Neo Sora from Japan. It tells a story of the future, but is very much rooted in the experience of the past, dissecting Japan's penchant for nostalgia, and how it affects the younger generations facing an unknowable tomorrow.

The Artistic Achievement Award for Production Design was given to Marcus Cheng and Hsu Kuei Ting for "Pierce."

New competition sections were also introduced under QCinema's Special Critics Prize. "Toxic" by Lithuanian director Saule Bliuvaite was honored with the New Horizons prize for Best First Film while "Cu Li Never Cries" by Pham Ngoc Lan from Vietnam garnered the New Horizons NETPAC Award for Best Asian First Film.

Vietnamese cinema has three wins in different categories, continuing its winning streak from other major festivals in recent years.

The other new competition, RainbowQC Prize, the festival's distinctive section celebrating the LGBTQ experience, awarded its Best Film prizes to two titles, "Baby" by Marcelo Caetano from Brazil and "Sebastian" from British-Finnish director, Mikko Mäkelä.

Special mention went to Hiroshi Okuyama for the Japanese entry, "My Sunshine."

For its QCShorts International competition, the Best Short Film went to a QCinema-produced title in its world premiere, "Kinakausap ni Celso ang Diyos" by Gilb Baldoza and the Jury Prize to "WAShhh," from Malaysia/Ireland by Mickey Lai.

"Are We Still Friends?" by Al Ridwan received a special mention, while the gender sensitivity award was given to "RAMPAGE! (o ang parada)" by Kukay Bautista Zinampan.

QCinema Critics Lab 2024 participants also awarded the QCinema Critics Lab Young Critics Prize to "Here We Are" by Chanasorn Chaikitiporn.

The Alexis Tioseco and Nika Bohinc Award for Film Criticism went to Visayan film programmer Ligaya Villablanca.

"Moneyslapper" still has two remaining screenings. One is on November 15, Friday, 6:50 pm at Shangri-La Red Carpet 4. The last one is on November 17, Sunday, at 2:25 pm at Gateway Cinema 15 (block screening).

Both the Best Picture Award and Grand Jury Prize winners will each have an additional screening.