November 2, 2024 The voice of all eras.

John Lloyd Cruz Emerges as the Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland

August 18, 2023

August 18, 2023
Philippine’s King of Contemporary Cinema becomes the second Filipino to receive the prestigious Boccalino d’Oro Prize for his performance in Essential Truth of the Lake.

Despite weathering numerous controversies in recent years, John Lloyd Cruz stands resiliently as one of the country’s most exceptional talents. As a testament to his enduring skills in the industry, this year, his acting prowess secured him yet another prestigious accolade to embellish his already illustrious collection of achievements: the Boccalino d’Oro Prize for Best Actor.

For his outstanding performance in Lav Diaz’s Essential Truth of the Lake, John Lloyd Cruz bagged the Boccalino d’Oro (Golden Jug) Award for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. He becomes the second Filipino actor to have earned the same recognition—after Hazel Orencio, who also won the award in 2014 for her role in Lav’s Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon.

‘Para sa mga namatay at mga naiwan’: John Lloyd Cruz Wins Best Actor in the Annual Film Fest in Switzerland

Running from August 2 to 12 this year, the Boccalino d’Oro is awarded by the Independent Critics Jury in five categories as part of the annual film festival in Switzerland.  As the Best Actor Award recipient, John Lloyd Cruz shared in his acceptance speech how he dedicated this award to Filipinos. “Para sa Pilipinas. Para sa Pilipino. Para sa mga namatay at mga naiwan nila.”

Lav Diaz’s cinematic masterpiece, Essential Truth of the Lake, intricately weaves the narrative of a dedicated police lieutenant’s relentless pursuit of truth. Set against the backdrop of a chilling 15-year-old, the film unfurls the harrowing tale of grave human rights violations that occurred during the Duterte administration. Notably, the Film Development Council of the Philippines has highlighted that this compelling creation stands as the sole Southeast Asian entry to have earned a place in the competition, solidifying its unique distinction on the global stage.

As the film’s synopsis reads: “Faced with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody murders and brazen lies, Lt. Papauran continues his struggle to find resolution to a fifteen-year-old case around a volcanic ash-laden landscape and an impenetrable lake. It has become a cross he can barely carry but keeps lugging anyway. His survival then is in perpetuating the pain.”

FDCP Chairman and CEO Tirzo Cruz III shared in a statement: “It is with great joy and pride that I congratulate one of the most talented artists of our country, Mr. John Lloyd Cruz, for having won the Boccalino d’Oro prize for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. This award is much deserved by an artist of his caliber. Lloydie, congratulations, and thank you for bringing honor to our country.”

In addition to John Lloyd Cruz, the cast of Essential Truth of the Lake featured esteemed actors such as Shaina Magdayao, Bart Guingona, Agot Isidro, and a host of other exceptional talents from the country. Beyond its exploration of sociopolitical dimensions, the film serves as a beacon for cinematic excellence. With finesse, it depicts the noble embodiment of police officers driven by unwavering morale and civic principles, dedicated to helping the people rather than bolstering oppressive authority.

Cover image source: Epic Media PH

Related Posts

Get Ready to Sink Your Fangs into Burger Beast’s Purple Phantom Burger This Halloween!

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Burger Beast is back to make your Halloween extra tasty with the drop of their new, limited-edition Purple Phantom Burger....

BINI is Dropping Three Vinyl Records this December!

November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Online pre-orders start on November 10. Blooms, Christmas came early this year! After what feels like forever, the demand for...

G-DRAGON Unleashes New Single “POWER”: A Bold New Era Begins

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Global music icon and K-Pop superstar G-DRAGON has made a triumphant return with his high-octane new single, POWER. Released through...

Catch ‘Spirited Away,’ ‘My Neighbor Totoro,’ and More at the Studio Ghibli Film Festival—Free This November!

October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

The Studio Ghibli Weekend mini-film festival takes place at Shangri-La Plaza’s Red Carpet Cinema. In a world where we can...

Inside Lady Gaga’s Double Drop: “DISEASE” Music Video + Vegas Performance with Bruno Mars

October 30, 2024

October 30, 2024

Lady Gaga just dropped a double feature that has everyone talking! The pop queen released a new music video for...

Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” Blows Up on Billboard, Setting Major K-pop Records

October 30, 2024

October 30, 2024

BLACKPINK’s Rosé just hit a huge milestone with her collab ‘APT.’ featuring Bruno Mars, landing at No. 8 on the...

Max Brings a New Streaming Experience to PH this November!

October 28, 2024

October 28, 2024

Time to binge-watch your favorite movies and series from HBO to Harry Potter, DC Universe, Cartoon Network, and so much...

Best friends play Truth or Dare, Drink or Strip | Shaun Ocrisma & Enzo Villacorta

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

Gen-Zciety, you don’t want to miss this! Besties Shaun Ocrisma and Enzo Villacorta take on our wildest Truth or Dare...

Palawan Reigns Once Again—Ranked Among the World’s Best Island for 2024

October 24, 2024

October 24, 2024

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to book your dream Palawan island escape, this is it! When it comes...

Why Everyone is Obsessed with Labubu: The Plush Toy Taking Over

October 23, 2024

October 23, 2024

In 2024, the Philippines and Southeast Asia are buzzing with excitement over Labubu, a whimsical plush toy that has quickly...

Meet JL—the P-pop Artist Who Made it to South Korea’s Survival Show ‘Universe League’

October 21, 2024

October 21, 2024

JL, the PLUUS boy group member is the only Filipino contestant in the SBS reality competition series, Universe League. Honestly,...

How ZEROBASEONE Healed My Inner Queer Child

October 18, 2024

October 18, 2024

Many often talk about “healing their inner child.” So often that it has become a laughing stock, insinuating that people...

Oktoberfest Returns to Newport World Resorts with an Even Bigger, Grander Bavarian-Style Feast!

October 16, 2024

October 16, 2024

A three-day feast with world-famous beers, pretzels, bratwurst, lebkuchenherzen, schnitzel, spaetzle, and indulgent desserts awaits at Oktoberfest Manila 2024. Oktoberfest...

The Corrs Set to Leave Filipino Fans ‘Breathless’ with Two-Night Manila Concert in February

October 15, 2024

October 15, 2024

The Irish family pop rock band The Corrs returns to Manila for their concert to make Valentine’s Day even more...

LOOK: Mattel Drops New Filipina Barbie by Fil-Am Artist Carlyle Nuera

October 14, 2024

October 14, 2024

This exciting release of Filipina Barbie coincides with the Filipino American History Month celebration. When it comes to creativity, there’s...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *