# 1983 Metro Manila Film Festival

The 9th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in 1983, with only eight films presented.
Cine Suerte's Karnal won the Best Picture and four other awards. The major individual awards, however, was garnered by Lea Productions' Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag including Best Actor and Best Actress for Anthony Alonzo and Coney Reyes respectively, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Willie Milan among others. Other awardees include the films Hot Property and Tengteng de Sarapen.
RVQ Productions' Tengteng de Sarapen was the top grosser of the festival.

## Entries

| Title | Starring | Studio | Director | Genre |
| Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing | Christopher de Leon, Edgar Mortiz, Jay Ilagan, Johnny Delgado, Nora Aunor, Jaime Fabregas, Larry Lawrence | Vanguard Films | Peque Gallaga | Adventure, comedy |
| Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag | Anthony Alonzo, Coney Reyes, Eddie Garcia, Perla Bautista, Alicia Alonzo | Lea Productions | Willie Milan | Action |
| D'Godson | Niño Muhlach, William Martinez, Susan Bautista, Panchito, Pepe Pimentel, Nanette Inventor, Manny Luna, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Bayani Casimiro, Jimmy Santos, Palito, Joaquin Fajardo, Fred Panopio | D'Wonder Films | J. Erastheo Navoa | Action, Comedy |
| Gunfighter | Lito Lapid, Connie Angeles, Chuck Biller, Cole Mackay, Paul Jones, Marlene Chavez, Brad Fletcher | APG Films | Romy Suzara | Action, Western |
| Hot Property | Carmi Martin, Phillip Salvador, Dennis Roldan, Vic Diaz, Tony Santos, Sr. | Golden Dragon Films | Lino Brocka | Drama |
| Karnal | Charito Solis, Phillip Salvador, Vic Silayan, Joel Torre, Cecille Castillo | Cine Suerte | Marilou Diaz-Abaya | Drama |
| Over My Dead Body | Tony Ferrer, Efren Reyes, Jr., Bembol Roco, Raoul Aragon, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Lolita Marquez | Sunfilms International | Arsenio 'Boots' Bautista | Action |
| Tengteng De Sarapen | Dolphy, Alma Moreno, Panchito, Jaypee de Guzman, Raoul Aragonn, Bayani Casimiro, Teroy de Guzman, Palito, Ben David, Rocco Montalban, Larry Silva, Allan Bautista, Max Vera | RVQ Productions | Frank Gray, Jr. | Comedy |

## Winners and nominees
### Awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.
| Best Film | Best Director |
| Karnal Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag Hot Property | Willie Milan – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag |
| Best Actor | Best Actress |
| Anthony Alonzo – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag | Coney Reyes – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress |
| Dennis Roldan – Hot Property | Alicia Alonzo – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag |
| Best Sound Engineering | Best Cinematography |
| Rudy Baldovino – Karnal | Manolo Abaya – Karnal |
| Best Editing | Best Music |
| Augusto Salvador – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag | William Yusi – Hot Property |
| Best Art Direction | Best Screenplay |
| Fiel Zabat – Karnal | Willie Milan and Ronnie Paredes – Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag |
| Best Child Performer |
| Jaypee de Guzman and Ben Pelayo – Teng Teng de Sarapen |

## Multiple awards

| Awards | Film |
| 6 | Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag |
| 4 | Karnal |
| 2 | Hot Property |

## Controversies

In August 1983, American political advisor Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), requested that the festival be moved from December to November, lest the MPAA refrain from attending the 1984 edition of the Manila International Film Festival. His request was criticized by members of the Philippine film industry, with one producer arguing that November is often a time when film attendance is at its lowest in the country.
During the awards night, many were surprised after Coney Reyes won the Best Actress award for the film Bago Kumalat ang Dugo and Anthony Alonzo is given the Best Actor award for the same film, besting acting greats Charito Solis, Phillip Salvador, and Vic Silayan, who were all in the film Karnal. In addition, juror's standards of giving Willie Milan the Best Director award against Lino Brocka is questioned.