OSAKA – Kapamilya actress Ryza Cenon recently won the Yakushi Pearl award for being the “Most Brilliant Performer” at the 13th Osaka Asian Film Festival (OAFF) for her movie “Mr. and Mrs. Cruz” directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.
She succeeded Kapamilya actress Iza Calzado, who took home the same award for her exceptional acting in the film “Bliss.”
“Ganito pala ang feeling. Nakuha ko ang perlas para sa Pilipinas,” Cenon said on her Instagram post.
The 30-year-old actress received a pearl accessory from Yakushi Shinju.
In the movie, Cenon played the role of Gela who travelled to Palawan and found herself enjoying the company of Raffy portrayed by JC Santos.
Meanwhile, young director Mikhail Red also won the Most Promising Talent award for “Neomanila.” Eula Valdes, the film’s lead actress, received the trophy on Red’s behalf.
Apart from “Mr. and Mrs. Cruz” and “Neomanila,” Giancarlo Abrahan’s “Paki” also competed at the prestigious festival. While Antoinette Jadaone’s “Love You To The Stars and Back” and Mario O’Hara’s “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” were shown in the Special Programs Section of OAFF.
This article was originally published in Filipino-Japanese Journal April 2018 issue.
(Words by Florenda Corpuz, Photographs courtesy of OAFF 2018)
