# Gawad Urian Award

The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (transl. Filipino Film Critics), a film critic organization composed of critics, writers, and scholars. It is the regarded as the highest award for a film given by critics in the Philippines and is seen as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.
The name "Gawad Urian" is from Tagalog terms urian (a standard for gold) and gawad (award). It is the only major award-giving body in the Philippines to use the vernacular in awards shows and in the presentation of the awards. The official name for the Best Film category is Pinakamahusay na Pelikula, for example.

## History

The Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino was formed by a host of scholars, film writers and other award-winning writers on May 1, 1976, as a critics' voice to rival the then-only award-giving body in the Philippines, which is its Oscars, the FAMAS Awards. Three years earlier, what would be the members of the Manunuri were included in the judges' roster of the FAMAS after a shocking 1972 Best Actress tie materialized between major star Boots Anson-Roa and then-rising star Vilma Santos. A tie was unheard of at that time, which resulted in accusations of lessening prestige on the part of FAMAS. After a voting stint at the FAMAS, these future Manunuri members set up the Gawad Urian Awards.
The Gawad Urian Awards were established to "examine Filipino films, bolster the interest of the masses and the Philippine film industry, study and celebrate the achievement that will help define the good Filipino film, and cultivate the knowledge and skills that the film medium was designed for, which is to be a medium of communication and expression of our culture according to the standards and conditions of filmmaking in our country."
It then went on to become one of the most prestigious film award-giving bodies in the Philippines. Unlike the other award-giving bodies in the country, it has never been tainted with any accusations of vote buying or scandals. This distinction made the Gawad Urian a highly coveted award in the Philippine film industry that is only given to the most deserved winners.
The Gawad Urian is known for its infamous ties. At a time when the Filipino award-giving bodies were adamant about awarding ties after the FAMAS rock-up in 1972, the Gawad Urian has given ties in the Best Film category (3 ties), Best Screenplay category (1), Best Actress category (6) and Best Supporting Actress category (2), a dozen ties all in all. It is also known for awarding several lesser-known films produced by small independent production companies. In 2004, Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino, a landmark Filipino drama, was awarded Pinakamahusay na Pelikula (Best Film) by Gawad Urian, while it did not receive a single nomination from any award-giving body that year.
In 1988, the awards for the films of 1987 were not held because the Manunuri deemed that there was a "lack of deserving winners," which was a first in Filipino awards history.
In 2006, the Gawad Urian became the first award-giving body in the Philippine to welcome digital films into competition. Its nominees were swamped with achievement from digital films that year, which prompted the other award-giving bodies to include digital films in its roster of nominations the next year.
In 2024, Iti Mapukpukaw became the first animated film in Philippine history to win Best Film at the Gawad Urian.

## Awards ceremonies

| Ceremony | Date | Best Film | Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 1st | 1977 | Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? | Manuel de Leon (producer) |
| 2nd | 1978 | Hubad na Bayani | Gerardo de Leon (director) |
| 3rd | 1979 | Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak | Manuel Conde (director, producer) |
| 4th | 1980 | Jaguar | Manuel Silos (director) |
| 5th | 1981 | Manila by Night | Lamberto Avellana (director) |
| 6th | 1982 | Salome | Anita Linda (actress) |
| 7th | 1983 | Oro Plata Mata | Luis Nolasco (director, writer) |
| 8th | 1984 | Broken Marriage | Mike Accion (cinematographer) |
| 9th | 1985 | Sister Stella L | William Smith (sound engineer) |
| 10th | 1986 | Kapit sa Patalim | Tito Arévalo (actor) |
| 11th | 1987 | Takaw Tukso | Rosa Rosal (actress) |
| 12th | 1989 | Itanong Mo sa Buwan | Not awarded |
| 13th | 1990 | Pahiram ng Isang Umaga | Richard Aberlardo (director) |
| 14th | 1991 | Gumapang Ka sa Lusak | Susana de Guzman |
| 15th | 1992 | Ipagpatawad Mo | Mary Walter (actress) |
| 16th | 1993 | Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal | Levi Celerio (film score composer) |
| 17th | 1994 | Makati Ave. Office Girls | Leopoldo Salcedo (actor) |
| 18th | April 29, 1995 | The Fatima Buen Story | Eddie Romero (director) |
| 19th | May 11, 1996 | Sana Maulit Muli | Pancho Magalona (actor) |
| 20th | May 10, 1997 | Segurista | Felipe Sacdalan (cinematographer) |
| 21st | March 28, 1998 | MIlagros | Dolphy (actor) |
| 22nd | March 28, 1999 | Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa? | Mona Lisa (actress) |
| 23rd | March 11, 2000 | Bayaning Third World | Nida Blanca (actress) |
| 24th | March 24, 2001 | Tuhog | Manahan sisters (makeup artists) |
| 25th | May 11, 2002 | Batang West Side | Fernando Poe, Jr. (actor) |
| 26th | May 17, 2003 | Dekada ’70 | Ricardo Lee (screenwriter) |
| 27th | June 19, 2004 | Babae sa Breakwater | Gloria Romero (actress) |
| 28th | June 4, 2005 | Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino | Jess Navarro (editor) |
| 29th | August 3, 2006 | Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros | Eddie Garcia (actor, director) |
| 30th | September 13, 2007 | Kubrador | Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda (producer) |
| 31st | October 1, 2008 | Tirador | Kidlat Tahimik (director) |
| 32nd | September 19, 2009 | Serbis | Peque Gallaga (director) |
| 33rd | April 29, 2010 | Kinatay | Armida Siguion-Reyna (actress, producer) |
| 34th | May 17, 2011 | Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria | Jose Lacaba (screenwriter) |
| 35th | June 13, 2012 | Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa | Rody Lacap (cinematographer) |
| 36th | June 18, 2013 | Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim | Mila del Sol (actress) |
| 37th | June 17, 2014 | Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan | Mike de Leon (director) |
| 38th | June 16, 2015 | Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon | Nora Aunor (actress) |
| 39th | June 22, 2016 | Taklub | Romy Vitug (cinematographer) |
| 40th | July 20, 2017 | Women of the Weeping River | Vilma Santos (actress) |
| 41st | June 14, 2018 | Balangiga: Howling Wilderness | Winston Raval (film score composer) |
| 42nd | June 18, 2019 | BuyBust | Gloria Sevilla (actress) |
| 43rd | November 10, 2020 | Babae at Baril | Fiel Corrales Zabat (production designer) |
| 44th | October 21, 2021 | Aswang | Lav Diaz (director) |
| 45th | October 27, 2022 | On the Job: The Missing 8 and Big Night! (tie) | Roxlee (animator) |
| 46th | November 30, 2023 | Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon | Jaime Fábregas (actor, film score composer) |
| 47th | June 8, 2024 | Iti Mapukpukaw | Hilda Koronel (actress) |

## Award categories
### Current categories

* Pinakamahusay na Pelikula (Best Film)
* Pinakamahusay na Direksyon (Best Direction)
* Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor (Best Actor)
* Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres (Best Actress)
* Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor (Best Supporting Actor)
* Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres (Best Supporting Actress)
* Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula (Best Screenplay)
* Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya (Best Cinematography)
* Pinakamahusay na Disenyong Pamproduksyon (Best Production Design)
* Pinakamahusay na Editing (Best Editing)
* Pinakamahusay na Musika (Best Music)
* Pinakamahusay na Tunog (Best Sound)
* Pinakamahusay na Maikling Pelikula (Best Short Film)
* Pinakamahusay na Dokyumentaryo (Best Documentary)

### Honorary awards

* Natatanging Gawad Urian (Lifetime Achievement Award) – for film artisans whose contributions have helped shape the Filipino film industry.
* Ginintuang Gawad Urian (Golden Urian Award) – given by the Manunuri to Mike de Leon in 1992, the first and the last time the award was given out.

## Decades lists
### Best Films of the Decade

Every end of a decade, the Manunuri publishes a list called Mga Natatanging Pelukula ng Dekada which recognizes the best films of the decade.

#### 1970s

* Pagdating sa Dulo (1971) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974) dir. Lino Brocka
* Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) dir. Lino Brocka
* Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (1976) dir. Eddie Romero
* Insiang (1976) dir. Lino Brocka
* Itim (1976) dir. Mike de Leon
* Nunal sa Tubig (1976) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Sakada (1976) dir. Behn Cervantes
* Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978) dir. Celso Ad. Castillo
* Jaguar (1979) dir. Lino Brocka

#### 1980s

* City After Dark (1980) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Kisapmata (1981) dir. Mike de Leon
* Batch '81 (1982) dir. Mike de Leon
* Himala (1982) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) dir. Peque Gallaga
* Karnal (1983) dir. Marilou Diaz-Abaya
* Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (1984) dir. Lino Brocka
* Sister Stella L. (1984) dir. Mike de Leon
* Hinugot sa Langit (1985) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Orapronobis (1989) dir. Lino Brocka

#### 1990s

* Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (1990) dir. Lino Brocka
* The Fatima Buen Story (1994) dir. Mario O'Hara
* Wating (1994) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) dir. Joel Lamangan
* Milagros (1997) dir. Marilou Diaz-Abaya
* Bata, Bata... Paano Ka Ginawa? (1998) dir. Chito Roño
* Jose Rizal (1998) dir. Marilou Diaz-Abaya
* Bayaning 3rd World (1999) dir. Mike de Leon
* Pila-balde (1999) dir. Jeffrey Jeturian

#### 2000s

* Batang West Side (2001) dir. Lav Diaz
* Tuhog (2001) dir. Jeffrey Jeturian
* Babae sa Breakwater (2003) dir. Mario O'Hara
* Magnifico (2003) dir. Maryo J. de los Reyes
* Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino (2004) dir. Lav Diaz
* Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005) dir. Auraeus Solito
* Kubrador (2006) dir. Jeffrey Jeturian
* Serbis (2008) dir. Brillante Mendoza
* Kinatay (2009) dir. Brillante Mendoza
* Lola (2009) dir. Brillante Mendoza

#### 2010s

* Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria (2010) dir. Remton Siega Zuasola
* Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (2011) dir. Alvin Yapan
* Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim (2012) dir. Arnel Mardoquio
* Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013) dir. Lav Diaz
* Women of the Weeping River (2016) dir. Sheron Dayoc
* Baboy Halas (2016) dir. Bagane Fiola
* Tu Pug Imatuy (2017) dir. Arnel Barbarona
* Respeto (2017) dir. Treb Monteras
* Balangiga: Howling Wilderness (2017) dir. Khavn de la Cruz
* BuyBust (2018) dir. Erik Matti
* Babae at Baril (2019) dir. Rae Red

#### 1970 - 1999

* Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) dir. Lino Brocka
* Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (1976) dir. Eddie Romero
* Insiang (1976) dir. Lino Brocka
* Nunal sa Tubig (1976) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* City After Dark (1980) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Kisapmata (1981) dir. Mike de Leon
* Batch '81 (1982) dir. Mike de Leon
* Himala (1982) dir. Ishmael Bernal
* Orapronobis (1989) dir. Lino Brocka
* Bayaning 3rd World (1999) dir. Mike de Leon

### Best Actors and Actresses of the Decade

The Mga Natatanging Aktor at Aktres ng Dekada awards are given every first year of the decade to actors and actresses who had made outstanding works in the past decade. The artists named on these lists are also honored during that year's awards ceremony. Nora Aunor is the only performer, male or female, to receive the award in three different decades.
* 1980s: Gina Alajar, Nora Aunor, Phillip Salvador, Vic Silayan, Vilma Santos
* 1990s: Nora Aunor, Richard Gomez, Vilma Santos
* 2000s: Coco Martin, Gina Pareño, Cherry Pie Picache
* 2010s: Nora Aunor, Angeli Bayani, John Lloyd Cruz, Alessandra de Rossi