The Philippines’ John Arcilla has made history as the first Filipino to win the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the 78th Venice International Film Festival in Italy.
The Filipino actor was recognized for his performance in Erik Matti’s film “On the Job: The Missing 8” which had its world premiere as the lone Asian production that competed in this year’s festival.
Arcilla received the prestigious award for playing the role of a seasoned journalist, Sisoy Salas, announced by the Italian film festival on September 11, 2021 (September 12, Philippine time).
“Well, if there is something that I regret tonight is that I will not be able to see my picture there, kissing my own Volpi Cup just like the other 77 actors who received their most prestigious award in the middle of Venice on that red carpet,” John Arcilla said in his virtual acceptance speech shared on Instagram.
“If there’s one thing that made me the happiest actor today is because I know for a fact that we came from different countries, from different continents…and yet I can feel the oneness despite our differences and it’s because of the arts, the art of cinema,” Arcilla adds.
#BiennaleCinema2021 #Venezia78
Coppa Volpi per il miglior attore / Coppa Volpi for Best Actor:
John Arcilla in ON THE JOB: THE MISSING 8 di/by Erik MattiErik Matti (regista/director)
ritira il premio/receives the award pic.twitter.com/DyJM8RkUPf— La Biennale di Venezia (@la_Biennale) September 11, 2021
“On The Job: The Missing 8” starring Arcilla, Dennis Trillo, and Dante Rivero is the follow-up to the award-winning 2013 crime thriller “On The Job,” also directed by Erik Matti. Inspired by true events, the sequel follows a radio journalist, Sisoy (Arcilla), in a time of corruption and media censorship in the Philippines.
The Volpi Cup for Best Actor is the top prize given to actors at the competition named in honor of Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, the founder of the Venice Film Festival.
The Venice International Film Festival is the world’s oldest film festival which aims “to raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue,” according to its website.
Internationally renowned Filipino director Lav Diaz was hailed Best Director in last year’s Venice Film Festival for his cinematic masterpiece Lahi, Hayop (Genus, Pan).
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the Philippines’ multi-awarded actor John Arcilla for becoming the first Filipino to win the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the Venice International Film Festival in Italy.
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