Best Film

The Young Critics Circle Award for Best Film is awarded to honor the best Filipino film of the year. Per YCC criteria, the award for Best Film "refers to vision and direction that pay sensitive and keen attention to both the language of cinema ('presentation') and social reality ('representation'), in the process refunctioning the possibilities of film as progressive art and popular culture. The Best Film citation is awarded to the Director not so much because he or she is the auteur or the central intelligence of the film, but because his or her work lies at the conjuncture which coordinates filmmaking."

Directors with multiple Best Film wins include:

• Jose Javier Reyes (Hindi Kita Malilimutan, 1993; Batang PX, 1997; and Minsan May Isang Puso, 2001)
• Adolfo Alix Jr. (Adela, 2008; Haruo, 2011; and Porno, 2013)
• Chito Roño (Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, 1998; and Dekada '70, 2002)
• Mario O'Hara (Sisa, 1999; and Babae sa Breakwater, 2003)
• Brillante Mendoza (Masahista, 2005; and Foster Child, 2007)
• Ralston Jover (Bakal Boys, 2009; and Da Dog Show, 2015)

Best Performance

The YCC award for Best Performance refers to acting, to the playing out of a role or character that implicates emotion, feeling, and experience in the social conditions of the personal and in the political economies of habit and gesture and how these forge the body politic. The Best Performance citation is handed to the Performer, whether male or female, adult or child, in major or supporting role, individual or ensemble.

Since there is only one award given for performance (whether male or female, lead or supporting, individual or ensemble), the YCC Best Performance Award is highly coveted in the Philippine film industry. Since the first awarding in 1991, Nora Aunor has the most nominations with thirteen, and the most wins with five.

Nora Aunor is the most nominated actress with 13 nominations and the most Awarded performer of YCC

Aunor has been nominated for:

• Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina? (1990)
• Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M. (1991)
• Inay (1993)
• The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995)
• Muling Umawit ang Puso (1995)
• Bakit May Kahapon Pa? (1996)
• Babae (1997)
• Naglalayag (2004)
• Thy Womb (2012)
• Ang Kwento Ni Mabuti (2013)
• Taklub (2015)
• Tuos (2016) (double nomination: single performance / Duo)

She won for Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina?, Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M., Inay, The Flor Contemplacion Story, and Thy Womb.

Other multiple winners include:

• Maricel Soriano (Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal, 1992; Vampira, 1994; and Inang Yaya, 2006)
• Aga Muhlach (Joey Boy Munti, 1991; and Hindi Kita Malilimutan)
• Vilma Santos (Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, 1998; and Dekada '70, 2002)

Best Screenplay

Best Screenplay refers to the rhetoric of writing for film that articulates the complexity of social life and personal perturbation through narrative logic or political conviction; or simply through well-thought out dramatic tension that explores contestation between the personal and the political, the individual and the collective, the private and the public. The Best Screenplay award is given to the writer of the film.

Multiple Best Screenplay winners include:

• Jose Javier Reyes (Dinampot Ka Lang sa Putik, 1991; Iisa Pa Lamang, 1992; Hindi Kita Malilimutan, 1993; Batang PX, 1997; and Minsan May Isang Puso 2001)
• Ralston Jover (Foster Child, 2007; Porno, 2013; Da Dog Show, 2015; and Mrs., 2016)
• Lualhati Bautista (Nena, 1995; Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?, 1998; and Dekada '70, 2002)
• Mario O'Hara (Sisa, 1999; and Babae sa Breakwater, 2003)
• Armando Lao (Minsan Pa, 2004; and Biyaheng Lupa, 2009)
• John Bedia (The Chanters, 2017; and Edward, 2019)

Best Achievement in Editing

Best Achievement in Editing refers to the configuration of relationships of time and space among scenes in a film that is able to synthesize, engage in collision, reconcile, or transgress connections through the complex interplay of mise-en-scene and montage. The Best Editing trophy is given to the editor.

Three editors have received the YCC Editing award twice:

• Jesus Navarro (Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal, 1992; and Milagros, 1997)
• Roberto Vasadre (Sana Pag-ibig Na, 1998; and Pila Balde, 1999)
• Vito Cajili (Malikmata, 2003; and Spirit of the Glass, 2004)

Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design

Best Achievement in Cinematography and Visual Design refers to the mise-en-scene and its visual/plastic qualities production design, lighting, art direction, visual effects that lend form to whatever representation is projected on screen. The Best Cinematography and Visual Design honor is conferred on the cinematographer and the production designer.

Multiple category winners include:

For Cinematography:

• Jun Pereira (Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali?, 1990; and Kailan Ka Magiging Akin?, 1991)
• Rey de Leon (Babae sa Bubungang Lata, 1998; and Babae sa Breakwater, 2003)
• Yam Laranas (Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon, 2002; and Sigaw, 2004)
• Albert Banzon (Adela, 2008; and Kalayaan, 2012)

For Production Design:

• Charlie Arceo (Kailan Ka Magiging Akin?, 1991; and Ikaw Lang, 1993)
• Sammy Aranzamendez (Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon, 2002; and Sigaw, 2004)
• Adolfo Alix Jr. (Adela, 2008; and Kalayaan, 2012)

Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration

Best Achievement in Sound and Aural Orchestration refers to the rendering of the auditory aspects of film music, natural sound, sound effects as these are counterposed against or harmonized with the language of image, and so become meaningful sign systems on their own. The Best Sound citation is awarded to the sound engineer and the musical scorer or music curator.

Multiple category winners include:

For Sound Design:

• Albert Michael Idioma (Curacha: Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga, 1998; Phone Sex, 1999; Sugatang Puso, 2000; Minsan May Isang Puso, 2001; Dekada '70, 2002; Sigaw, 2004; and Porno, 2013)
• Ramon Reyes (Kung Mawawala Ka Pa, 1993; Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko, 1994; Mumbaki, 1996; and Milagros, 1997)
• Arnold Reodica (Sigaw, 2004; and Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, 2011)
• Mark Locsin (Inang Yaya, 2006; and Endo, 2007)
• Ditoy Aguila (Adela, 2008; and Biyaheng Lupa, 2009)
• Mikko Quizon (Nervous Translation, 2017; and Never Not Love You, 2018)

For Music:

• Jesse Lucas (Phone Sex, 1999; Sugatang Puso, 2000; Minsan May Isang Puso, 2001; Babae sa Breakwater, 2003; and Sigaw, 2004)
• Nonong Buencamino (Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko, 1994; Milagros, 1997; Dekada '70, 2002; and Inang Yaya, 2006)
• Ryan Cayabyab (Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, 1991; and Kung Mawawala Ka Pa, 1993)
• Jaime Fabregas (Mumbaki, 1996; and Curacha: Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga, 1998)
• Jerrold Tarog (Masahista, 2005; and Shake, Rattle and Roll 12: Punerarya, 2010)

Best First Feature

In 2013, the Young Critics Circle added a new category to their six existing awards as a recognition of the growing number of new filmmakers in the country. The Best First Feature award is given to the three most outstanding debut feature films (narrative, experimental, or documentary) of the year.

Additional sources

• Tale of ex-Yakuza, Diana Zubiri lead Young Critics Circle awardees - Interaksyon.com/TV5 (June 19, 2012). Retrieved June 28, 2012