Winners of 39th Luna Awards plums

The winners of the recently concluded 39th Luna Awards of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), emerged in a lunar phases-themed night at the Rizal Hall of the Quezon City Sports Club, E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City. 

Some of the winners at Luna Awards 2023

It’s also a night of intimate reunion for artists and workers of the film industry as they converged to celebrate the resurrection of Philippine cinema after the pandemic.

BEST PICTURE

Family Matters (Cineko Productions, Inc.)

BEST DIRECTOR

Mikhail Red (Deleter)

BEST ACTOR

Noel Trinidad (Family Matters)

BEST ACTRESS

Heaven Peralejo (Nanahimik ang Gabi)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

John Arcilla (Reroute)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Mylene Dizon (Family Matters)

BEST SCREENPLAY

Martika Ramirez Escobar (Leonor Will Never Die)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Carlos Mauricio (Leonor Will Never Die)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Elfren Vibar (Family Matters)

BEST EDITING

Lawrence Ang (Leonor Will Never Die)

BEST MUSICAL SCORING

Jazz Nicolas & Mikey Amistoso (Blue Room)

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Andrea Idioma (Nananahimik ang Gabi)

SPECIAL AWARDS

Golden Reel Award – Sen. Imee Marcos (accepted by her cousin, Eliza Valtos)

FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award – Leo Martinez

Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievements – Ricky Lee, National Artist

Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award – Conrado Baltazar

Noel Trinidad

Mylene Dizon

Heaven Peralejo

The by-invitation event was hosted by the vibrant radio broadcaster and former PBB housemate Rico Robles, who broke traditional hosting by roaming and interviewing the seated audience. The audience was also feted with a haunting violin performance of Ralph Arsenal during the In Memoriam segment for the fallen showbiz comrades portrayed as patriots who served the country through cinema. 

At the closing, emerging pop stars Allyson Gonzales and P-Pop group Cloud 7 sang the celebratory Luna’s Themesong to introduce the Best Picture Winner, composed by Njel de Mesa and rearranged by Nonong Buencamino and Rommel Ricafort.   

Singer Laverne Arceo provided the pre-program entertainment. Doing the voiceover is Patricia Calderon who also served as presenters of nominees and winners, in another first in awards history. 

The 39th Luna Awards was line produced by RR Entertainment, which also hosts motion picture, live show, and other audio-visual productions. Its current productions are Sweet Escape and Offload movies.  

The return of this most prestigious event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and Office of the Mayor, Quezon City Government.