Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Award

Infobox award
name = FAMAS Award

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imagesize =
caption = The FAMAS Award of Merit, arguably the most coveted and prestigious motion picture prize in the Philippines
description = Excellence in cinematic achievements
presenter = Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences
country = Philippines
year = 1953
website =

The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards, also known as FAMAS Awards, are the awards given by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), an award-giving body for Philippine cinema composed of Palanca Award-winning writers and movie columnists and writers, since 1952. It is widely conceived as the Filipino equivalent of the American Academy Awards.

Significance

The FAMAS Awards is one of the four main film awards of the Philippines. It is given by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, which is an independent award-giving body composed of notable writers and movie columnists. The awards are doled out annually since 1952, which makes it the oldest film industry award-giving body in the Philippines and in Asia (the oldest is the Kinema Junpo Awards in Japan). The FAMAS Awards, from 1976 to 1982, has been the highest Filipino film award that a filmmaker or artisan could ever receive in the Filipino movie industry.

In 1982, with the inception of the Film Academy of the Philippines (Luna) Awards, the so-called Philippine equivalent of the Oscars as mandated by the Philippine government, it was unofficially relegated to second place. Nevertheless, winning a FAMAS Award is still held in high regard because of its age and prestigiousness.

In fact, the FAMAS Award is one of the awards an actor or actress must win to be considered a Grand Slam Actor/Actress. (The other awards being the Luna Award, the Gawad Urian Award of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, and the Star Awards for Movies of the Philippine Movie Press Club.)

The Maria Clara Awards

The forerunner of Philippine movie awards -- and the FAMAS Award -- was the Maria Clara Awards, established by the Manila Times Publishing, Inc. under the tutelage of Dr. Alejandro Roces in 1951. The Maria Clara statuette, which bore the figure of Maria Clara, a character in Dr. José Rizal's immortal novel "Noli Me Tangere", was sculpted by National Artist for Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino. For two years, the Maria Clara Awards has awarded the Philippine movie industry's best of the best:

First Maria Clara Awards (1950)†

Second Maria Clara Awards (1951)†

† "incomplete list of winners"

FAMAS Established

Due to the complaints that the Maria Clara Awards were somewhat irrelevant because movie writers and not film artisans and filmmakers are the ones who are voting for the awards, six writers (Atty. Flavio G. Macaso, Vic Generoso, Mario Mijares Lopez, Paulo Dizon, Amado Yasoma and Eddie Infante) established the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences.

FAMAS was designed after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) of the United States and was originally named "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the Philippines" before AMPAS protested against the usage of their name.

The word FAMAS was coined by Filipino movie legends Jaime de la Rosa and Rosa Rosal, who decided on naming the Philippines' equivalent to the Oscars as FAME. FAMAS is the Filipino version (not a translation) of the word FAME.

History of the FAMAS Awards

The FAMAS Awards formally replaced the Maria Clara Awards, the first awards in the Philippine movie industry which doled out awards to honor cinematic achievements of 1950-1951, in 1952. In its inception, FAMAS had movie writers, columnists and studio publicists as its voting members.

The FAMAS was the sole award-giving body for film in the Philippines from 1952 until 1976, when the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) formed the Gawad URIAN. Within that period, FAMAS alone has awarded the most outstanding performers and craftsmen of Filipino films, from screen legend Rosa Rosal to master director Gerardo de Leon. Winning a FAMAS Award became the target obsession for many film craftsmen, for it was, after all, the Philippines' counterpart of the Oscars. The awards itself, then held mostly in the Manila Hotel, was the biggest annual event in the Philippine movie industry.

In 1960, Sampaguita Pictures and Vera-Perez Productions withdrew their participation from the Academy because the agreement between producers on who receives the FAMAS Awards was not followed. The agreement was that each of the Big Four studios (LVN Pictures, Sampaguita Pictures, Premiere Productions and Lebran International) would receive the top awards. For example, if the Best Picture goes to one studio, the acting awards should go the other three studios and the directing award should go to another studio. The 1960 FAMAS Awards, nevertheless, failed to honor Sampaguita Pictures with an award, so Sampaguita Pictures and its sister company Vera-Perez Productions withdrew from the Academy. In addition, Sampaguita's mogul, Dr. Jose Perez, returned all of the FAMAS Awards that the studio have won so far by placing them on public view in his Vera-Perez Gardens. Other movie studios also withdrew from the Academy, though they did not return their statuettes. Because of this, in 1961, the FAMAS revamped its membership rules and removed studio representation membership, which left the FAMAS with solely movie writers and columnists.

In 1973, FAMAS awarded the first tie in the history of Philippine cinema. The tie was in the Best Actress category, with both Boots Anson-Roa and Vilma Santos sharing the honors. Because a tie was unheard of, the public dissented the vote. Therefore, for the next years, the FAMAS invited film critics to be members of its nominating and awarding committee. These critics left the FAMAS in 1976 to form MPP and subsequently, the Gawad URIAN.

In 1981, the FAMAS' monicker, "the Philippines' counterpart of the Oscars," was rescinded by the government when it established the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) under Executive Order No. 640-A. The FAP was patterned after the AMPAS. In addition, other award-giving bodies have sprung up over the years: among the most notable are the Star Awards for Movies in 1985, the Catholic Mass Media Awards of the Catholic Church, the Gawad Pasado of the Film Desk Critics' Circle and recently, the Golden Screen Awards of the Entertainment Press.

In 2002, the FAMAS celebrated its golden jubilee with the longest FAMAS Awards telecast yet. The awards night, which was held at the FAMAS Awards' original home, Manila Hotel, was held graciously and extravagantly from 9 PM to 3 AM.

In 2003, the FAMAS was rocked by yet another terrible scandal. The Best Actress Award of the 51st FAMAS Awards went to Aleck Bovick for a role in a bold movie, "Tampisaw", much to the chagrin of some people in the industry. Many people, including FAMAS winner Amalia Fuentes, felt that FAMAS had killed itself when it gave a FAMAS to Bovick. Nevertheless, FAMAS did its own cleansing. FAMAS President Art Padua restructured the FAMAS by inviting more Palanca Award-winners (Pulitzer Prize of the Philippines) to the Academy and dismissing members who have gone AWOL.

Leadership Crisis and Revocation of SEC

On May 6, 2003, due to non-compliance with reportorial requirements, the corporate charter of the FAMAS was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This move of the SEC gave FAMAS three years to wind-up its activities. This move also prohibited the staging of an awards night, which is the major activity of the FAMAS. Nevertheless, under the presidency of Art Padua, the FAMAS was able to stage the 52nd and 53rd FAMAS Awards.

For the 53rd FAMAS Awards (2004) on June 26, 2005, FAMAS set another trend. It partnered with the ABS-CBN Channel 2 for the production of the annual awards night. ABS-CBN held the broadcasting rights to the awards night telecast. As a result, the 53rd FAMAS Awards became the first awards night in the Philippines to be telecast all over the world, since ABS-CBN also aired the awards through one of its international satellite stations, Pinoy Central TV.

In 2004, fifteen new members of the FAMAS were allowed by FAMAS president Art Padua to vote on the annual elections. This was questioned by some members of the FAMAS, some of which are lifetime members of the corporation, who then walked out of the election. FAMAS president Art Padua considered this as a resignation from the corporation, which sparked further unrest in the corporation.

On June 25, 2005, Col. Jimmy Tiu was elected unanimously by 34 of the 53 members of the FAMAS. Nevertheless, Art Padua did not acknowledge the results of the voting, and he considered the elected officers as the "FAMAS breakaway group." This leadership crisis would have a tremendous effect on the 54th FAMAS Awards.

In April 2006, the FAMAS, as represented by Art Padua, released the Official Nominees for the Awards, and on the next months had released the date and venue of the awards. On July 15, the day of the awards night, a 72-hour temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Felixberto Olalia of Manila Regional Trial Court against Art Padua and his set of officers from holding the 54th FAMAS Awards Night. The ruling favored Col. Tiu, the president of the breakaway group. The order was issued because, as presented by Col. Tiu, FAMAS ceased to exist as a registered organization of the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2003. As a SEC non-registered organization, all the FAMAS could do was to hold "winding-up activities" which does not include an awards night. This led to the postponement of the 54th FAMAS Awards night.

In order to go around the SEC restriction of holding the FAMAS Awards, FAMAS decided to resurrect the Maria Clara Awards in order to continue the long legacy of the still-beleaguered FAMAS and to continue awarding Filipino motion picture excellence. In holding the Maria Claras instead of the FAMAS, the FAMAS indeed does not hold its primary and only function, which is the holding of an awards night, which is not therefore a violation of the SEC ruling. The Maria Clara Awards were held on October 13, 2006 in a simple and humble event at Golden Fortune Restaurant in Manila. In retrospect, the FAMAS would not be awarded until the leadership crisis and the registration revocation issues of the corporation are not resolved.

Nevertheless, the group of Art Padua still held the 54th FAMAS Awards on November 12, 2006 at the Main Hall of the National Broadcasting Network Building in Quezon City, despite the SEC ruling against holding an awards night. The awards night set a trend because it is the first awards night in Philippine history to be shown as a feature of another TV program (Pilipinas, Ngayon Na of NBN Channel 4) instead of being a television special.

In 2007, just right before the 55th FAMAS Awards, the Supreme Court of the Philippines finally resolved the leadership crisis of FAMAS and handed the leadership to Art Padua, who is currently the longest-reigning president in the history of the Academy. An appeal to the Court of Appeals by Col. Tiu is still pending though.

Gabi ng Parangal (The Awards Night)

The FAMAS' Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night) is the most colorful night of the Philippine motion picture industry. It is here where the bigwigs of the movie industry, the brightest stars and the most talented artisans of the industry gather together and showcase their best clothing finds right in front of their fans and televiewers. Various Filipino famous fashion designers have clothed the best of Philippine cinema during these events. This is also the night when movie kings and queens finally get their due for their artistry in the field of acting, and where the greatest minds of Filipino film finally get their own "Oscar," or in this case, their FAMAS.

The Gabi ng Parangal has been hosted by various locations such as the Manila Hotel, Araneta Coliseum, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Manila Hilton Hotel, to name a few. It has also been carried by different television networks such as RPN-9 and ABS-CBN 2. It was televised live from the carrier station until the 21st century, when it was aired at delayed telecasts due to difficulties in airing the program live.

Awards

The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences bestows the FAMAS Award of Merit to individuals who have used their skills and craftsmanship to the best of their abilities for the development and creation of a Filipino motion picture.

The FAMAS Award of Merit statuette was modeled from great screen legend and FAMAS Award-winner Rosa Rosal. The varnished gold-painted wood statuette boasts of a Balintawak-clad woman whose raised hands holds a four-spoke film reel. She stands on a black cylindrical pedestal, which is encircled with a thin gold leaf that bears the initials and full name of FAMAS in big black letters, the awards ceremony, the category in which it was won, the name of the winner, the place where it was given and the signature of the FAMAS President. The statuette design itself has never changed over the years.

Current Awards

FAMAS Awards of Merit

*Best Picture: since 1952
**"divided into Best Drama Picture, Best Comedy Picture and Best Action Picture in 1988"
*Best Director: 1952 to present
*Best Screenplay: 1952 to present
*Best Story: 1952 to present
*Best Actor: 1952 to present
*Best Actress: 1952 to present
*Best Supporting Actor: 1952 to present
*Best Supporting Actress: 1952 to present
*Best Child Actor: 1955 to present
*Best Child Actress: 1963 to present
**"both Child Performance categories are usually joined as "Best Child Performer" in some years"
*Best Cinematography: 1952 to present
**"divided into Black-and-White and Color categories before the 1970s"
*Best Art Direction/Best Production Design: 1952 to present
*Best Editing: 1952 to present
*Best Sound: 1952 to present
**"as Best Sound Engineering during the FAMAS' early years"
*Best Musical Score: 1952 to present
*Best Theme Song: 1963 to present
*Best Visual Effects: 1984, 1997 to present
*Best Special Effects: 1997 to present

Special Awards

The FAMAS also awards thirteen special awards, the most for any award-giving body in the Philippines. These awards, except for the Hall of Fame, Circle of Excellence, Natatanging Alagad ng Sining and Huwarang Bituin ng FAMAS awards, are awarded annually:

*FAMAS Hall of Fame Award: bestowed to a person who has won five FAMAS Awards in a certain category

* FAMAS Circle of Excellence Award: the highest award the FAMAS can bestow on an individual; given to a Hall of Fame inductee who had given a performance that was worthy of a FAMAS Award

* FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award: given to motion picture performers and artisans who have made indelible and lifelong contributions to the development of the Filipino motion picture industry; first awarded in 1989

* FAMAS Grand Award: given to an individual or an organization who have supported and helped the FAMAS throughout the years; first awarded in 2005

*Atty. Flavio G. Macaso Memorial Award: awarded to FAMAS members who have shown utmost loyalty and service to the Academy; named in honor of the first president of the Academy; first awarded in 1998

*Dr. Jose Perez Memorial Award for Journalism: given to managers, public relations officers, entertainment columnists and starbuilders who have demonstrated great mastery and professionalism in handling the biggest stars of the Philippine movie industry, as well as advancing the state of the Filipino motion picture industry through the use of journalism; named after the Sampaguita Pictures' mogul; first awarded in 1984, and from 1997 to present

*Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award: given to an outstanding action movie star whose overflowing charisma, great physique and loyal following in the action genre has made him a great icon of the genre; named in honor of the King of Philippine movies, Fernando Poe, Jr

*German Moreno Youth Achievement Award: given to a pair of young male and female stars who have shown great promise as a motion picture artisan and actor in the past calendar year; decided by German Moreno, one of Philippine show business' best known talent discoverer and developer

*Golden Artist Award: given to performers who have gained local recognition for their cinematic and/or artistic excellence

*International Artist Award

*Posthumous Award: gives recognition to recently deceased motion picture artisans' exemplary achievements in the motion picture industry; first awarded in 2007

*Presidential Award: gives recognition to an individual who has helped the cause of the FAMAS or of the motion picture industry as a whole greatly on a certain calendar year or any given time through any way possible

*Special Citation Award: given to certain individuals' exemplary achievements in the performing arts and the motion picture industry, whose achievements may or may not be a contribution to the motion picture industry but to the arts as a whole

Retired Awards

*Best Featurette (1955)
*Best Short Film (1958)

*Lou Salvador Sr. Memorial Award: was given as a recognition to an exemplary comedic motion picture thespian who has established a great career and following through astounding comedic prowess onscreen; awarded from 1998-2004

*Huwarang Bituin ng FAMAS Award: was given to a motion picture thespian who has shown great charisma, incredible acting prowess, exemplary social skills off-camera and loyal fan following over a long-spanning career filled with memorable and award-winning performances in Philippine Cinema's greatest screen classics and/or profitable releases; awarded from 2002-2003

*Dr. Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award: was given to performers and directors of productions that have gained international recognition for their cinematic excellence; named after the studio chief of Premiere Productions; awarded in 1958, 1963, and from 1998-2000

*International Prestige Award of Merit: was given to Filipino film productions that have been recognized internationally for their superior cinematic quality and artistry; given in 1957, 1958 and 1961

*Gregorio Valdez Memorial Award

*Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Special Award: was given to either honor the singular achievement of an individual in raising the standards of Philippine motion pictures or to recognize any achievement of an individual that was worth a worthy recognition from the Academy.

One-time FAMAS Awards

*Centennial Award: given in the 46th FAMAS Awards (1997) in 1998 to celebrate the centennial of Philippine independence; was given to the films that honestly reflected Philippine culture and traditions in its entirety and that celebrated patriotism and love of country; winners of the award were "Rizal sa Dapitan" (1997) and "Damong Ligaw" (1997).

*Bukas Palad Award: given in the 47th FAMAS Awards (1998) in 1999 to honor the generosity and indelible contributions of the Philippines' original Queen of Talk, gossip columnist and TV host Inday Badiday, to the Philippine motion picture industry.

*Bituin ng FAMAS Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon Award: given in the 50th FAMAS Awards (2001) in 2002 as a part of its Golden Jubilee celebration; was given out to FAMAS-winner Dolphy, the Charlie Chaplin of the Philippines and one of its greatest screen legends, to recognize his almost six decades in show business, his indelible contribution to the Philippine motion picture industry and his irreplaceable status in the Philippines as its King of Comedy

*Natatanging Alagad ng Sining Award: was given during in 2004 to honor the achievements of the King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe, Jr., whose passed away just six months prior to the awards

External links

* [http://www.freewebs.com/famas_awards/ The Unofficial Website of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences]
* [http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/FAMAS_Awards/ FAMAS Awards]