John Lloyd Cruz wins international acting award
In a resounding victory, John Lloyd Cruz clinched the Boccalino d’Oro or Golden Jug Award for Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival. The famous Filipino actor himself received the recognition in Switzerland on 11th August 2023.
The latest addition to Cruz’s acting accolades is for his performance in director Lav Diaz’s Essential Truths of The Lake. The film made its debut at the same international film festival.
Essential Truths of The Lake
Image credit: IMDb
Essential Truths of The Lake serves as a prequel to another Lav Diaz film, Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon (When The Waves Are Gone). In both films, Cruz portrays Lieutenant Hermes Papauran, a dedicated detective grappling with the inner turmoil from the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.”
Popular actors Shaina Magdayao and Agot Isidro also star in the film.
John Lloyd Cruz’s acceptance speech
Video credit: Essential Truths of The Lake via Facebook
Cruz received the award with a short but impactful acceptance speech.
“Para sa Pilipinas, para sa Pilipino, para sa lahat ng pinatay at mga naiwan nila,” he said. (“For the Philippines, for Filipinos, for everyone they killed, and the people they left behind.”
Cruz is the second Filipino actor to receive the Golden Jug Award for Best Actor. His co-star, Hazel Orencio, won the prize in 2014 for another Lav Diaz film, Mula sa Kung Ano Ang Noon (From What is Before). Diaz also won the Best Picture Award for the same film.
John Lloyd Cruz brings pride to the Philippines
With John Lloyd Cruz bringing home the Golden Jug Award, we can safely say that Filipino talent is unmatched even on an international scale. With more Filipino actors being recognized abroad, the path only looks more promising for other Filipino artists.
Get to know more globally recognized Filipino talents with this list of Filipino actors with international awards. For more local films with political commentary, dive into these Philippine history documentaries and movies.
Cover image adapted from: Essential Truths of The Lake via Facebook, IMDb