Kisapmata, a movie about a deranged retired policeman, got nine of the 13 awards, including best picture, in the 1981 Metro Manila film festival awards ceremonies held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last night. The movie, earlier banned from being shown until the hearing on a suit involving it starts on Jan. 4, also won for Mike de Leon the best director award, De Leon, together with Clodualdo del Mundo and Raquel Villavicencio, also won the best screenplay award. Vic Silayan, the lead actor in Kisapmata, won the best actor award, Jay Ilagan and Charito Solis were adjudged best supporting actor and actress, respectively. Kisapmata, produced by Bancom Audiovision, also got the best production design, best sound, and best editing awards.
This year’s best actress is Vilma Santos, who appeared in Sining Silangan’s Karma. Other awards went to Pagbabalik ng Panday, for best cinematography and best child performer (Bentot Jr.); Kamlon, best musical scoring; Kapitan Kidlat, also for best child performer (Dranreb). Press photographers walked out shortly after the evening show started. A man who was directing people on the stage shooed the photographers away, saying they were not allowed near the stage. – The Times journal, December 28, 1981, Video 48