# 1981 Metro Manila Film Festival

The 7th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in 1981.
Bancom Audiovision's Kisapmata, a movie about a deranged retired policeman, won ten of the thirteen awards in the 1981 Metro Manila Film Festival including the Best Picture, Best Director for Mike de Leon, and Best Actor for Vic Silayan and among others. Vilma Santos was named Best Actress for her role in Sining Silangan's Karma.
FPJ Productions' Pagbabalik ng Panday was the top grosser of the festival.

## Entries

| Title | Starring | Studio | Director | Genre |
| Ang Babae sa Ulog | Ricky Belmonte, Jean Saburit, Maria Victoria, Yasmin Ayesa, Alan Bautista, Karen Lopez | Baby Pascual Films & Associates | Ed Palmos | Drama |
| Indio | Dante Varona, Chiqui Hollmann, Lirio Vital, Romy Diaz, Subas Herrero, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Odette Khan, Dave Brodett | Lea Productions | Carlo J. Caparas | Action |
| Init O' Lamig | Charito Solis, Dindo Fernando, Elizabeth Oropesa, Chanda Romero, Gina Alajar | Cinex Films & F. Puzon Film Enterprises | Eddie Rodriguez | Drama |
| Kamlon | Ramon Revilla, Anthony Alonzo, Isabel Rivas, Rosemarie de Vera, Eddie Garcia, George Estregan, Nick Romano, Arnold Mendoza, Laarni Enriquez | Imus Productions | Jose Yandoc | Biography, Action |
| Kapitan Kidlat | Elizabeth Oropesa, Chanda Romero, Celia Rodriguez, Dranreb Belleza, Michael de Mesa, Rio Locsin, Carlo Gabriel | Premiere Productions | Emmanuel Borlaza | Action, Fantasy, Superhero |
| Karma | Vilma Santos, Ronaldo Valdez, Chanda Romero, Tommy Abuel | Sining Silangan | Danny Zialcita | Romance, Drama |
| Kisapmata | Vic Silayan, Jay Ilagan, Charo Santos, Charito Solis | Bancom Audiovision | Mike de Leon | Psychological Horror |
| Pagbabalik ng Panday | Fernando Poe, Jr., Tina Revilla, Bentot, Jr., Rosemarie Gil, Lito Anzures, Jose Romulo, Lilian Laing, Max Alvarado | FPJ Productions | Ronwaldo Reyes | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror |
| Rock n' Roll | Nora Aunor, Lloyd Samartino, Mark Gil, Ricky Davao | NV Productions & Annie Batungbakal Productions | Maryo J. de los Reyes | Family, Music |
| Tropang Bulilit | Niño Muhlach, Sheryl Cruz, Andrea Bautista, Janice de Belen, Lea Salonga, Donna Villa, Lloyd Samartino, Manny Luna | D'Wonder Films | J. Erastheo Navoa | Comedy, Drama, Family |

## Winners and nominees
### Awards

Winners are listed first, highlighted with boldface and indicated with a double dagger (‡). Nominees are also listed if applicable.
| Best Film | Best Director |
| Kisapmata - Bancom Audiovision‡ Ang Babae Sa Ulog | Mike De Leon – Kisapmata‡ |
| Best Actor | Best Actress |
| Vic Silayan – Kisapmata‡ | Vilma Santos – Karma‡ |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress |
| Jay Ilagan – Kisapmata‡ | Charito Solis – Kisapmata‡ |
| Best Sound Engineering | Best Cinematography |
| Kisapmata‡ | Ver Reyes – Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday‡ |
| Best Child Performer | Best Story |
| Bentot, Jr. – Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday ‡ and Dranreb Belleza – Kapitan Kidlat‡ | Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Raquel Villavicencio, and Mike De Leon – Kisapmata‡ |
| Best Screenplay | Best Editing |
| Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., Raquel Villavicencio, and Mike De Leon – Kisapmata‡ | Jess Navarro and Ben Pelayo – Kisapmata‡ |
| Best Art Direction |
| Kisapmata‡ |

## Multiple awards

| Awards | Film |
| 10 | Kisapmata |
| 2 | Ang Pagbabalik ng Panday |