MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) has clarified the distinction between the Best Actress Award and the Best Actress with Distinction Award following the recognition of Maricel Soriano and Maris Racal at the 74th Famas Awards.
In an official statement on Wednesday, Famas explained that the two awards recognize different aspects of acting excellence, emphasizing that Soriano's Best Actress win for “Meet, Greet and Bye” and Racal's recognition for “Sunshine” were not a tie.
The academy said its Best Actress selection considers not only an actress' performance in a particular film but also her body of work, consistency, versatility and lasting contribution to Philippine cinema.
“The Best Actress Award therefore recognizes not only the excellence of an actress in a particular film but also the depth, maturity, and cumulative artistic achievements that lend greater significance to her performance,” the statement read.
Famas cited Soriano's extensive career and range of roles as examples of the qualities recognized by the category, describing her body of work as a reflection of her command of the craft and sustained contribution to Philippine cinema.
Meanwhile, the Best Actress with Distinction Award recognizes an exceptional individual performance marked by depth, originality, emotional conviction and a strong impact on the cinematic experience.
The academy cited Racal's performance in “Sunshine,” saying her portrayal demonstrated courage, sensitivity and artistic maturity. It added that the performance merited recognition independently of the cumulative achievements traditionally considered in the Best Actress category.
Famas stressed that the awards are not competing distinctions and do not establish one actress as superior to the other. Instead, they recognize two dimensions of cinematic excellence: an actress' enduring body of work and an exceptional performance in a single film.
“The distinction does not diminish the achievements of either artist. On the contrary, it allows Famas to recognize their respective accomplishments with greater precision, fairness, and artistic appreciation,” the statement read.
“Maricel Soriano represents the enduring excellence of a distinguished body of work. Maris Racal represents the extraordinary brilliance of a singular, distinctive performance,” Famas said.
The statement concluded by affirming that both actresses deserved recognition for their respective achievements, declaring that both embodied excellence and were “truly Pang-Famas.”
Other winners at the 74th Famas Awards included McCoy de Leon, who won Best Actor for “In Thy Name,” and Karylle, who received Best Supporting Actress for “Quezon.” Mon Confiado won Best Supporting Actor for the same film, while “In Thy Name” also took home Best Picture, with Cesar Soriano winning Best Director. Annika Co was named Best Child Performer for “Sunshine.”
