Some of Philippine cinema’s biggest names are headed for another awards showdown as the 42nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies brings together festival winners, box-office performers and internationally recognized films on October 25.
The acting races feature Vice Ganda, Piolo Pascual and Jericho Rosales among the contenders for Movie Actor of the Year, while Nadine Lustre, Angelica Panganiban, Maris Racal, Charo Santos-Concio, Maricel Soriano, Bela Padilla and Mylene Dizon are competing for Movie Actress of the Year.
At the center of the nominations are Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s I’mPerfect and Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine, two films that reached the awards race through markedly different paths.
I’mPerfect secured 13 nominations, the most among the mainstream films, while Sunshine collected 12 across the independent and other categories.
For I’mPerfect, the recognition follows its breakthrough at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival, where it won First Best Picture and Krystel Go was named Best Actress. Its cast also received the Jury Prize for Best Ensemble.
The romantic drama centers on Jessica and Jiro, played by Go and Earl Amaba, two people with Down syndrome who fall in love while navigating family, independence and their personal histories.
At the PMPC awards, Bernardo is nominated for Movie Director and Movie Screenwriter of the Year, while I’mPerfect is competing for Movie of the Year. Go and Amaba are also nominated for Movie Loveteam of the Year, with the film earning recognition across several technical categories.
Sunshine, meanwhile, built its reputation through the international film circuit.
Jadaone’s drama stars Racal as a young gymnast who discovers she is pregnant while preparing for a crucial opportunity in her athletic career, placing reproductive health and bodily autonomy at the heart of the story.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 before winning the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation 14plus competition at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.
Its awards momentum continued in the Philippines, with Jadaone and Racal earning recognition at the Pinoy Rebyu Awards.
Sunshine is now competing for Indie Movie of the Year, while Jadaone is nominated for Indie Movie Director and Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year. Racal is in the Movie Actress of the Year race, with Jennica Garcia nominated for supporting actress.
Competition remains tight elsewhere.
Manila’s Finest and Quezon received 11 nominations each and are among the contenders for Movie of the Year alongside Bar Boys: After School, Call Me Mother, I’mPerfect, The Delivery Rider and Unmarry.
The ceremony will also recognize several longtime figures in Philippine cinema. Vilma Santos-Recto and National Artist Ricky Lee will enter the Hall of Fame in their respective fields, while Sharon Cuneta and Rez Cortez will receive the Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award.
Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre will also be honored as Takilya King and Takilya Queen for Call Me Mother.
With I’mPerfect carrying its MMFF success into another major domestic competition and Sunshine bringing home momentum from its international festival run, the two films now converge in one of Philippine cinema’s long-running awards events.
The 42nd PMPC Star Awards for Movies will be held at Winford Resort and Casino Manila on October 25.