PMPC Star Awards for Movies
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | |
|---|---|
| Current: 41st PMPC Star Awards for Movies | |
| Awarded for | Excellence in Philippine Movies |
| Country | Philippines |
| Presented by | Philippine Movie Press Club |
| First award | 1985 |
PMPC Star Awards for Movies or known as Star Awards for Movies is an annual awarding ceremony recognizing outstanding films in the Philippines. It is organized by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), founded in 1985. It is considered as the Philippines counterpart of Hollywood's Golden Globe Awards.[1][2][3][4][5]
History
The Philippine Movie Press Club is a non-profit organization of entertainment journalists, writers and film critics which was founded in 1966. The first award for films was inaugurated in 1985, known as Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies which honors the exceptional talents of artists in front and behind camera and the recognizing the best Filipino mainstream and independent films annually.[6][7]
Award trophy
The Star Awards for Movie trophy is designed by Ernie Pecho.[8] It is a great concept: A pair of hands holding a star. This signifies the support given by the movie press to our local stars. Unfortunately, the PMPC members failed so many times in the past in their search for the most appropriate material for their trophy. They began with fiberglass that eventually cracked in time. It also produced bubbles that made the trophy look cloudy inside. Later, they also tried wood acacia but this is bad for the environment. Today, the press organization is contented with their glass trophy which of course breaks when not handled properly.[8]
Broadcasting
Historically, The PMPC Stars Awards for Movies is broadcast on various television networks in a delayed telecast, mainly IBC 13, ABS-CBN, TV5 and A2Z. During the pandemic, the traditional award ceremony gathering of stars was transitioned online to comply the government directives of social distancing ensuring public health safety. The winners accepted their awards from their own homes or other locations. This was observed during the 36th and 37th PMPC Star Awards for Movies which was held in virtual ceremonies.[9][10]
Awards of Merit categories
Current categories
- Movie of the Year
- Movie Director of the Year
- Movie Actor of the Year
- Movie Actress of the Year
- Movie Supporting Actor of the Year
- Movie Supporting Actress of the Year
- New Movie Actor of the Year
- New Movie Actress of the Year
- Movie Child Performer of the Year
- Movie Screenwriter of the Year
- Movie Cinematographer of the Year
- Movie Production Designer of the Year
- Movie Editor of the Year
- Movie Sound Engineer of the Year
- Movie Original Theme Song of the Year
- Indie Movie of the Year
- Indie Movie Director of the Year
- Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year
- Indie Movie Cinematographer of the Year
- Indie Movie Production Designer of the Year
- Indie Movie Editor of the Year
- Indie Movie Sound Engineer of the Year
- Indie Movie Original Theme Song of the Year
Special awards
- Darling of the Press
- Movie Loveteam of the Year
- Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award
- Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award
Rules
Eligibility period
Films must be locally produced and publicly exhibited in theatrical, streaming, or via mainstream media within the calendar year of the eligibility cycle. For instance, the 41st Star Awards held in November 2025 honored films released in 2024, while the 40th honored 2023 releases. Both mainstream films and independent "indie" films are eligible, featuring in separate categories like "Movie of the Year" and "Indie Movie of the Year".[11]
Selection process and voting
Nominations are selected by members of the Philippine Movie Press Club. In recent years, a partial list of winners for certain technical categories has been revealed prior to the main awards night to build anticipation.[11] The voting process was managed by PMPC members—primarily film critics and journalists—who cast ballots to select nominees and winners, ensuring peer-reviewed recognition without external influence.
Milestones
- The Philippine Movie Press Club has been around for 60 years.
- In 2024, the PMPC Star Awards for Movies has celebrated its 40 years in recognizing the best movies in Philippines cinema.[12]
- The highest awarded movie actress is Vilma Santos, holding the record of 10 wins for Movie Actress of the Year award, followed by Nora Aunor with 7 wins for the same category, while Christopher de Leon and Aga Muhlach have 4 wins for Movie Actor of the Year award respectively.
- In 2024, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera were awarded with Takilya Kung and Queen for their blockbuster movie Rewind with total gross of 924 million pesos at the box office. The following year, Alden Richards and Kathryn Bernardo received the Takilya King and Queen for their movie, Hello, Love, Again having a worldwide gross of 1.6 billion pesos, making it the highest grossing Filipino movie of all time.[13]
Award ceremonies
Controversies
ENPRESS and the formation of the Golden Screen Awards
In 2005, a group of entertainment journalists broke away from the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) to form the Entertainment Press Society (ENPRESS). This split was partly driven by frustrations over the PMPC’s perceived bias and fairness issues in awarding the PMPC Star Awards for Movies. ENPRESS established the Golden Screen Awards, a competing film awards body.[35][36]
In 2005, PhilStar reported allegations of vote-buying and possible studio influence during the 21st PMPC Star Awards for Movies. The article questioned the fairness of the voting process but did not confirm any investigation or outcome.[37] In 2014, entertainment columnist Jobert Sucaldito accused some PMPC voting members of engaging in vote-buying in connection with the Movie Actor of the Year category at the 30th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.[38] He claimed that he had been assured of support for E.R. Ejercito nominated for (Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill), but alleged that another voting member had lobbied for Vice Ganda, who ultimately won for Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy, and whose victory he described as unexpected.[39] According to Sucaldito, the intended recipient of the award was Joel Torre (nominated for On The Job), and in the absence of any vote-buying, Torre would have won.[40] The PMPC released a statement refuting the allegations.[41][42] Ejercito also distanced himself from the controversy, stating that he was unaware of any vote-buying.[43] Vice Ganda addressed the allegations on It’s Showtime, saying he would have returned the award if vote-buying had occurred, but otherwise accepted it.[44] He was shown hugging the trophy.[45] Several former PMPC members and veteran entertainment writers commented publicly on the controversy.[46]
See also
References
- ^ Red, Isah V. (March 16, 1999). "Vilma, Nida share top acting honors". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 24. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
...a typical awards night right at the heart of Philippine academe, the University of the Philippines Theater.
- ^ Red, Isah V. (March 16, 1999). "Vilma, Nida share top acting honors". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 24. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
...a typical awards night right at the heart of Philippine academe, the University of the Philippines Theater.
- ^ "ABS-CBN DOMINATES 28TH STAR AWARDS FOR TV". Abscbn. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ "Viva Films/Bida Foundation rule 25th PMPC Star Awards". PhilStar. March 31, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ "ABS-CBN wins 'Best TV Station' at the 28th PMPC Star Awards for TV". PR Log. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Leony (January 13, 2025). "PMPC elects officers for 2025". ABS-CBN. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ Garcia, Leony (January 13, 2025). "PMPC elects officers for 2025". ABS-CBN. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
- ^ a b "And the best statuettes". PhilStar. April 29, 2001. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
- ^ "Sylvia, Rossi, Arcilla win top Star Awards". PEP.ph. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Layug, Margaret Claire (September 27, 2021). "Alden Richards, David Licauco and more Kapuso stars win big at 36th PMPC Star Awards". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ a b "40th Star Awards for Movies partial list of winners announced". PEP. July 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "40th Star Awards for Movies celebrates decades of excellence in Philippine cinema". Abscbn. July 22, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "menubandera Chika Vilma, Aga, Dennis best actress, best actor sa 41st Star Awards for Movies". Bandera. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ^ "Bumper crop of awards". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. January 16, 1986. p. 6.
Awards Night is set for March 8 at the Folk Arts Theater (period covered: July 1-Dec. 31, 1985).
- ^ "Sharon hits back". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. April 8, 1989. p. 10. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "Lorna leads Star Awards winners". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. April 21, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "Star Awards set for April 15". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. April 8, 1989. p. 28. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "7th Star Awards set tomorrow". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. March 15, 1991. p. 17. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Red, Isah V. (March 11, 1996). "'Flor' sweeps Star Awards". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 32B. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Red, Isah V. (March 16, 1999). "Vilma, Nida share top acting honors". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 24. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
...a typical awards night right at the heart of Philippine academe, the University of the Philippines Theater.
- ^ Flores, Patrick (March 16, 2002). "Too many awards spoil the movie industry". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. p. 20. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
...a typical awards night right at the heart of Philippine academe, the University of the Philippines Theater.
- ^ Cruz, Marinel R. (March 10, 2003). "Low-budget film named Best Picture in Star Awards". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. A25. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Magsanoc, Kai (March 10, 2013). "WINNERS: 29th PMPC Star Awards for Movies". Rappler. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "30th PMPC Star Awards for Movies nominees unveiled". PEP.ph. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ "32nd Star Awards for Movies nominees unveiled". PEP.ph. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Jarloc, Glaiza (September 4, 2017). "Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor big winners at 33rd Star Awards for Movies". SunStar. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
- ^ Bukas, Leo. "Mga nominado sa 35th PMPC Star Awards For Movies inilabas na | ABS-CBN Entertainment". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2019". Rappler. June 3, 2019.
- ^ Layug, Margaret Claire (September 27, 2021). "Alden Richards, David Licauco and more Kapuso stars win big at 36th PMPC Star Awards". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ "Sylvia, Rossi, Arcilla win top Star Awards". PEP.ph. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Bukas, Leo (July 17, 2023). "TINGNAN: Mga nanalo sa 38th PMPC Star Awards". ABS-CBN.
- ^ "PMPC reveals nominees for 39th Star Awards for Movies". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
- ^ Quibranza III, Luis A. (August 2, 2024). "Celebrities honored at 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Mallorca, Hannah (November 1, 2025). "41st Star Awards for Movies: Kathryn Bernardo, Marian Rivera among nominees". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
- ^ Francisco, Butch. "An awards body born out of controversy". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Lo, Ricky. "A 'double victory' for Dennis Trillo". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Lo, Ricky. "Star Awards: Fair or foul?". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Serato, Arniel C. (March 10, 2014). "PMPC Star Awards for Movies results marred by vote-buying accusation". PEP.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ "Vice Ganda's Best Actor win in the 30th Star Awards was rigged, alleges showbiz columnist Jobert Sucaldito". SPOT.PH. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Policarpio, Allan (March 14, 2014). "Star Awards sizzlers". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Ramirez, Patty (March 12, 2014). "PMPC releases statement on alleged vote buying at the 30th Star Awards for Movies". ABS-CBN.
- ^ Quilingguing, Uriel C. (March 12, 2014). "PMPC denies vote buying allegations". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ "ER Ejercito on having been dragged into the issue of vote-buying for Best Actor trophy: "Hindi ko naman kailangan ng awards."". PEP.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Agting, Ira (March 12, 2014). "PMPC, Vice Ganda speak out on vote buying allegations". RAPPLER. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ "Vice Ganda embraces Star Awards Best Actor trophy despite controversy". PEP.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ "Veteran entertainment writers react to PMPC statement about vote-buying allegation". PEP.ph. Retrieved December 10, 2025.