MANILA, Philippines – GMA 7 actress LJ Reyes and filmmaker Jun Robles Lana won the Best Actress and Best Director awards at the recent 13th Pacific Film Festival in Vladivostok, Russia. 

LJ and Jun’s awards are two of the 4 major awards that the movie Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan (Shadow Behind the Moon) won. The film also took the NETPAC Jury Best Asian Film and the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, September 23, LJ said she was at a wedding when she heard the good news. 

“Sabi niya (He said) ‘we’ve won 3 awards so far including in all caps BEST ACTRESS,” she said. 

Her friends then asked her why she was crying and screaming and that’s when she told that she won. 

“Nag-pray kami together para mag-thank kay God for the award,” LJ said, who was unable to attend the ceremonies due to working commitments. 

LJ also said that she never expected to win an award for the film, set in the ’90s during the fight between soldiers and rebels in Marag Valley, Mindanao. She admitted to being worried also about playing the role of Emma, who is caught in between a soldier and a rebel, but in the end told Direk Jun that she trusted him. 

“Natatakot ako i-play yung role. Pero sabi ko, ‘ikaw na bahala sa akin….sobrang ganda niya pero ikaw na bahala sa akin.’ Wala na ako masabi,” LJ shared.

(I was afraid to play the role. But I told him (Direk Jun), ‘I trust you…[the script] was so beautiful, it’s up to you.’ I have nothing else to say.)

Direk Jun revealed that LJ had a 10-minute love scene with co-star Luis Alandy. The scene has no cuts. Asked what made her agree to this, she said: “ Blinack out ko na lang ang sarili ko.” ( I just did not think about it.)

“Ni-rehearse naman namin lahat nung eksena… Si Direk talagang tinulungan kami in every aspect. May input kami as an actor and may input din si Direk. It was actually a group effort.”  (We’ve rehearsed all the scenes…Direk relally helped us in every aspect. We have input as actors, as did he.)

Anino Sa Likod ng Buwan is scheduled to be shown in various international film festivals. The movie  will have its Philippine premiere this October at the Quezon CIty International Film Festival. – Rappler.com