THE 1966 1st MANILA FILM FESTIVAL: "DAIGDIG NG MGA API" BEST PICTURE

The First Manila Film Festival was held for the first time in 1966. Reserved solely for Hollywood and foreign movies, first-run downtown theaters like Ideal, Odeon, State, Ever, Galaxy, Capitol, Lyric, among others were opened for exhibition to locally-produced or Tagalog movies. The filmfest was the brainchild of then Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas. The 10-day festival which coincided on the city's foundation day (June 24) was a huge success participated in by big names in the industry.

The multi-awarded movie, Ang Daigdig ng mga Api was awarded the Rajah Soliman Grand Award for Best Picture. Five Maharnilad awards were also given: Best Drama (Passionate Strangers); Best Action (Sabotage); Best Adventure (Flight of the Sparrow); Best Technically-produced (Portrait of the Artist as Filipino) and Best Musical Entertainment (Till The End of Time). No individual awards were given.

Emerging as the top-grosser was Sabotage, starring Tony Ferrer as Tony Falcon, Agent X-44, an ace and wily spy agent who goes out of his way to neutralize a syndicate out to throw the country into chaos by sabotaging power facilities.

A total of 18 movies (14 new, 4 reissues) were exhibited during the 10-day festival. Iginuhit ng Tadhana, Portrait of the Artist as Filipino and Daigdig ng mga Api, all released in 1965, and Zamboanga, shown a month earlier, were allowed to participate.

"Sabotage" (1966)- Stars Tony Ferrer, Josephine Estrada, Miriam Jurado, Alicja Basili, Mary Louise Matheson, Max Alvarado, Joe Sison, Rocco Montalban, Nort Nepomuceno, Danny Rojo, Ray Marcos and Manolo Noble/ Directed by Eddie Garcia



"Ang Daigdig ng mga Api {Reissue}" (1965)- Stars Barbara Perez and Robert Arevalo/ with Ben Perez, Oscar Kesee, Dely Villanueva, Manny Ojeda Mona Del Cielo, Ruben Ilagan, Francisco Cruz, Quiel Segovia/ Directed by Gerardo De Leon

Left- "Sarhento Aguila at 9 na Magigiting" (1966)- Stars Fernando Poe, Jr., Paquito Diaz, Lito Anzures, Victor Bravo, Manolo Robles, Vic Varrion, Mario Escudero, Vic Uematsu, Resty Sandel and Jose Romulo/ with Oscar Kesee, Pablo Virtuoso, Dencio Padilla and Cecilia Lopez, Vic Silayan, Nello Nayo/ Directed by Efren Reyes

Right- "Target Domino" (1966)- Stars Romano Castellvi, Liberty Ilagan, Bessie Barredo, Tito Arevalo, Leni Trinidad, Val Magno, Rolando Aquino/ Directed by DLZ

Left- "Bakit Pa Ako Isinilang?" (1966)- Stars Gloria Romero, Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and Paraluman/ with Ric Rodrigo, Vic Vargas, Bert LeRoy, Jr., Rosa Mia, Elizabeth Bankhead/ Directed by Luciano B. Carlos

Right- "Till The End Of Time" (1966)- Stars Gloria Romero, Luis Gonzales, Eddie Gutierrez, Gina Pareno, Loretta Marquez, Norma Blancaflor, Rosa Mia, Ramil Rodriguez, Shirley Moreno, Elissa, Sarah Calvin, Elizabeth Bankhead / Directed by Mar S. Torres & Jose de Villa

Left-"Triggerman" (1966)- Stars Eddie Fernandez, Jean Lopez, Imelda Ilanan, Lucita Soriano and George Estregan/ with Avel Morado, Esar Visenio/ Directed by Cesar 'Chat' Gallardo

Right- "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" {Reissue} (1965)- Stars Daisy H. Avellana, Naty Crame-Rogers, Conrad Parham, Vic Silayan, Sarah K. Joaquin, Nick Agudo, Pianing Vidal/ Directed by Lamberto Avellana

Left- "The Passionate Strangers" (1966)- Stars Michael Parsons, Valora Noland, Celia Rodriguez,Vic Diaz and Mario Montenegro/ Directed by Eddie Romero

Right- "Napoleon Doble and the Sexy Six" (1966)- Stars Dolphy, Lourdes Medel, Lucita Soriano, Gina Laforteza, Chona Delgado, Rita Reyes and Leni Trinidad/ Directed by Carling Marquez

"Mr. Humble Boy {Ang Dating Kampeon}" (1966)- Stars Chiquito, Eva Montes, Teroy de Guzman, Nieves Manuel, Prospero Luna,/ with Tintoy, Baby Chiquita, Rosauro Oracion, Er 'Canton' Salazar/ Directed by To-Chi-Qui

Left- "Gunfighter" (1966)- Stars Jess Lapid, Eddie Garcia, Max Alvarado, Victor Bravo, Joe Sison. Bert Olivar, Rocco Montalban, Nort Nepomuceno, Joaquin Fajardo and Paquito Diaz/ Directed by Leody M. Diaz

Right- "Rico Solitaryo" (1966)- Stars Jun Aristorenas, Gina Alonzo, Van de Leon, Leni Trinidad, Gina Laforteza, June Bergman/ Directed by Ding M. de Jesus

"Flight of the Sparrow" (1966)- Stars Ronald Remy, Tita Munoz, Conrad Parham, Henry Duval/ Introducing Anastacia Rafael, Cora Sobrepena, Soledad Gloan and the People of the Mountain Province/ Directed by Rolf Bayer

Left- "Ikaw... ang Gabi at ang Awit {Arrivedercci Roma}" (1966)- Stars Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez/ with Gloria Sevilla, Al Quinn, Fred Galand and Tony Cayado/ Directed by Tony Cayado

Right- "Saan Ka Man Naroroon" (1966)- Stars Lolita Rodriguez, Marlene Dauden and Eddie Rodriguez/ with Johnny Monteiro, Diana Dean, Rosa Aguirre, Nello Nayo, Abrahan Cruz, Jimmy Morato, Bert Silva, Boy ALvarez/ Directed by Lauro Pacheco

Left- "Zamboanga {Reissue}" (1966)- Stars Fernando Poe Jr., Susan Roces, Johnny Monteiro, Ruben Rustia, Vic Silayan, Lito Anzures, Veronica Palileo, Pedro Faustino/ Directed by Efren Reyes

Right- "Iginuhit ng Tadhana {Reissue}" (1965)- Stars Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia and Gloria Romero/ with a cast of thousands/ Directed byMar S. Torres, Jose de Villa and Conrado Conde