Gawad Urian Award


The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, an organization composed of film critic, 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 and gawad. 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, Best Screenplay category, Best Actress category and Best Supporting Actress category, 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 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

CeremonyDateBest FilmLifetime Achievement Award
1st1977Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?Manuel de Leon
2nd1978Hubad na BayaniGerardo de Leon
3rd1979Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng TagakManuel Conde
4th1980JaguarManuel Silos
5th1981Manila by NightLamberto Avellana
6th1982SalomeAnita Linda
7th1983Oro Plata MataLuis Nolasco
8th1984Broken MarriageMike Accion
9th1985Sister Stella LWilliam Smith
10th1986Kapit sa PatalimTito Arévalo
11th1987Takaw TuksoRosa Rosal
12th1989Itanong Mo sa BuwanNot awarded
13th1990Pahiram ng Isang UmagaRichard Aberlardo
14th1991Gumapang Ka sa LusakSusana de Guzman
15th1992Ipagpatawad MoMary Walter
16th1993Ikaw Pa Lang ang MinahalLevi Celerio
17th1994Makati Ave. Office GirlsLeopoldo Salcedo
18thApril 29, 1995The Fatima Buen StoryEddie Romero
19thMay 11, 1996Sana Maulit MuliPancho Magalona
20thMay 10, 1997SeguristaFelipe Sacdalan
21stMarch 28, 1998MIlagrosDolphy
22ndMarch 28, 1999Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?Mona Lisa
23rdMarch 11, 2000Bayaning Third WorldNida Blanca
24thMarch 24, 2001TuhogManahan sisters
25thMay 11, 2002Batang West SideFernando Poe, Jr.
26thMay 17, 2003Dekada '70Ricardo Lee
27thJune 19, 2004Babae sa BreakwaterGloria Romero
28thJune 4, 2005Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang PilipinoJess Navarro
29thAugust 3, 2006Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo OliverosEddie Garcia
30thSeptember 13, 2007KubradorMarichu Vera Perez-Maceda
31stOctober 1, 2008TiradorKidlat Tahimik
32ndSeptember 19, 2009SerbisPeque Gallaga
33rdApril 29, 2010KinatayArmida Siguion-Reyna
34thMay 17, 2011Ang Damgo ni EleuteriaJose Lacaba
35thJune 13, 2012Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang PaaRody Lacap
36thJune 18, 2013Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing MadilimMila del Sol
37thJune 17, 2014Norte, Hangganan ng KasaysayanMike de Leon
38thJune 16, 2015Mula sa Kung Ano ang NoonNora Aunor
39thJune 22, 2016TaklubRomy Vitug
40thJuly 20, 2017Women of the Weeping RiverVilma Santos
41stJune 14, 2018Balangiga: Howling WildernessWinston Raval
42ndJune 18, 2019BuyBustGloria Sevilla
43rdNovember 10, 2020Babae at BarilFiel Corrales Zabat
44thOctober 21, 2021AswangLav Diaz
45thOctober 27, 2022On the Job: The Missing 8 and Big Night! Roxlee
46thNovember 30, 2023Kapag Wala Nang Mga AlonJaime Fábregas
47thJune 8, 2024Iti MapukpukawHilda Koronel
48thOctober 11, 2025Alipato at MuogDante Rivero

Award categories

Current categories

Honorary awards

  • Natatanging Gawad Urian – for film artisans whose contributions have helped shape the Filipino film industry.
  • Ginintuang Gawad Urian – 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 dir. Ishmael BernalTinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang dir. Lino BrockaMaynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag dir. Lino BrockaGanito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon dir. Eddie RomeroInsiang dir. Lino BrockaItim dir. Mike de LeonNunal sa Tubig dir. Ishmael BernalSakada dir. Behn CervantesPagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak dir. Celso Ad. CastilloJaguar dir. Lino Brocka

1980s

City After Dark dir. Ishmael BernalKisapmata dir. Mike de LeonBatch '81 dir. Mike de LeonHimala dir. Ishmael BernalOro, Plata, Mata dir. Peque Gallaga

1990s

2000s

Batang West Side dir. Lav DiazTuhog dir. Jeffrey Jeturian

2010s

Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria dir. Remton Siega ZuasolaAng Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa dir. Alvin YapanAng Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim dir. Arnel Mardoquio

1970 - 1999

Maynila: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag dir. Lino BrockaGanito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon dir. Eddie RomeroInsiang dir. Lino BrockaNunal sa Tubig dir. Ishmael BernalCity After Dark dir. Ishmael BernalKisapmata dir. Mike de LeonBatch '81 dir. Mike de LeonHimala dir. Ishmael Bernal

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.