The 73rd FAMAS Awards night was a star-studded celebration of Filipino cinema as big names in the industry bagged major recognitions on Friday, August 23, at the Manila Hotel’s Fiesta Pavilion.
Marian Rivera claimed her first FAMAS Best Actress trophy for her powerful performance in ‘Balota’, adding to her wins from the 2024 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and The Eddys earlier this year.
Vice Ganda and Congressman Arjo Atayde shared the spotlight as co-winners of the Best Actor award for ‘And The Breadwinner Is…’ and ‘Topakk’, respectively—marking Arjo’s first-ever FAMAS victory.
Action star Jeric Raval finally scored his long-overdue recognition after 34 years in showbiz, winning Best Supporting Actor for ‘Mamay: A Journey to Greatness’. Meanwhile, Nadine Lustre brought home her third FAMAS trophy as Best Supporting Actress for ‘Uninvited’. Nadine previously won Best Actress in 2019 (Never Not Love You) and 2023 (Greed).
In a surprise twist, the documentary film ‘Alipato’ at ‘Muog’, which tackled the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in 2007, took home Best Picture. Its director, JL Burgos—Jonas’s younger brother—was also honored as Best Director.
The biopic ‘Mamay: A Journey to Greatness’ emerged as the night’s biggest winner, bagging five trophies including Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Musical Score, and Best Original Song.
Judy Ann Santos was a standout, receiving two major honorary awards: the Nora Aunor Superstar Award and recognition as one of the FAMAS Child Icons of Philippine Cinema, alongside Gladys Reyes, Ian Veneracion, Niño Muhlach, Matet de Leon, and Ice Seguerra. She was also named Face of the Night.
Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto accepted the FAMAS Circle of Excellence Award, marking her 15th FAMAS recognition, while Kathryn Bernardo was hailed with the Bida sa Takilya Award.
Other notable honorees included Andres and Atasha Muhlach (German Moreno Youth Achievement Award), Lorna Tolentino (Susan Roces Celebrity Award), and Manny Pacquiao (FPJ Memorial Bida Award). The FPJ Kontrabida Award went to Dindo Arroyo, while PEP.ph received the Dr. Jose Perez Memorial Award for Journalism.
Complete List of Winners – 73rd FAMAS Awards
- Best Picture – Alipato at Muog
- Best Actress – Marian Rivera (Balota)
- Best Actor – Arjo Atayde (Topakk) and Vice Ganda (And The Breadwinner Is…)
- Best Supporting Actress – Nadine Lustre (Uninvited)
- Best Supporting Actor – Jeric Raval (Mamay)
- Best Director – JL Burgos (Alipato at Muog)
- Best Screenplay – Ricky Lee & Angeli Atienza (Green Bones)
- Best Editing – Lawrence Fajardo & Ysabelle Donaga (The Hearing)
- Best Cinematography – Gilbert Obispo (Mamay)
- Best Production Design – Cyrus Khan (Mamay)
- Best Musical Score – Neal “Buboy” Tan (Mamay)
- Best Sound – Jhon Eric Mancera (Topakk)
- Best Original Song – “Hahamakin Ang Lahat” (Uninvited) and “Hamon” (Mamay)
Special Awards:
- Film Producer of the Year – Mentorque, Inc.
- Bida sa Takilya Award – Kathryn Bernardo
- FAMAS Circle of Excellence Award – Vilma Santos
- FAMAS Child Icon of Philippine Cinema – Judy Ann Santos, Gladys Reyes, Ian Veneracion, Niño Muhlach, Ice Seguerra, Matet de Leon
- German Moreno Youth Achievement Award – Andres & Atasha Muhlach
- Susan Roces Celebrity Award – Lorna Tolentino
- Nora Aunor Superstar Award – Judy Ann Santos
- FPJ Memorial Bida Award – Manny Pacquiao
- FPJ Memorial Kontrabida Award – Dindo Arroyo
- Dr. Jose Perez Memorial Award for Journalism – PEP.ph
- FAMAS Presidential Award – Mayor Marcos Mamay
- FAMAS Loyalty Award – Brian Lu
Hosted by Max Eigenmann, RS Francisco, Sam Verzosa, and Tessa Prieto, the ceremony also featured performances from Imelda Papin, Maffi Papin, L.A. Santos, Kanishia Santos, John Arcenas, One Verse, 6ENSE, and PSF Muses.
