The Philippines won two awards at the 2017 Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA), one for renowned Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza who bagged another the Best Director award for his film “Ma’ Rosa,” and a Best Film award for Philippines-Malaysia collaboration film “Singing in Graveyards” which stars Filipino rock legend Joey “Pepe” Smith.
Mendoza received his second international best director award for his 2016 film The independent filmmaker earlier received the same recognition during the Gijon International Film Festival in Spain.
“Ma’ Rosa” tells the story of a well-liked sari-sari store owner Rosa (Jaclyn Jose) who sells drugs as a side business to meet her family’s daily needs while raising bail for her jailed husband Nestor (Julio Diaz).
The same film won for actress Jose the first Best Actress win for the Philippines at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
“Singing in Graveyards” was hailed as Best Film at the MGGA. The film stars Filipino rock legend Joey “Pepe” Smith who plays a rock star impersonator who’s given a chance to open for the rock legend’s concert.
