Max Eigenmann wins Best Actress in the 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards

By Celso de Guzman Caparas

Max Eigenmann received the Best Performance by an Actress award for the film Verdict, written and directed by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, during the closing ceremony of the 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia on Nov. 22.

She is the third Filipino actress to win after Nora Aunor (2012, Thy Womb) and Hasmine Kilip (2016, Pamilya Ordinaryo).

In her acceptance speech, Max was extremely grateful to the people who became an instrument to her victory.

“Thank you APSA! Being here tonight has been truly one of the most momentous and exciting experiences of my life and receiving this is beyond anything that I expected or imagined. I would like to thank my manager, Ricky Gallardo, who has taken really great care of me throughout, the entire team, my director Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, as well as my producer Brillante Mendoza for the trust and the guidance, of course, throughout the filming of the movie.

“I would like to share this honor with my cast and crew, most especially my co-star Kristoffer King who played my husband in the movie, and he passed away two months after we wrapped up the film. I would like to thank my partner Anthony for his patience and undying support and my children for being my inspiration and motivation behind in everything I do. And lastly, I’d like to thank my parents, my mom who always pushes me to be the best that I can be and most specially my dad who I know is looking down from heaven right now, he’s extremely proud. This is for you Philippines! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”

Verdict is a story of a battered wife who finally files a case against her husband. The film won the Premio Speciale dela Giuria (Special Jury Prize) in the Orizzonti (Horizons) Section of the 76th Venice International Film Festival (Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia) in Italy on Sep. 7. Produced by Brillante Mendoza and Carlo Camilo Valenzona of Center Stage Productions, it also stars Jorden Suan and Rene Durian. The film was Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board and screened during the third Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino last September, in celebration of the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema.

Verdict is the country’s official submission to the Oscars (92nd Academy Awards) in the International Feature Film category.

This article was first published here.