Filipino actress Iza Calzado bagged the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Performer at the 12th Osaka Film Festival in Japan. She received the award last March 11 for her role in the film “Bliss,” directed and written by Jerrold Tarog. In the film, she plays a 30-something actress who decides to make her own film so that the industry can take notice.
Iza Calzado: Proud To Represent Country
In her acceptance speech shared via Instagram video by Piolo Pascual, she thanked the festival and its jury for selecting her. She shared how proud she was to represent the country and the film, according to an ABS-CBN report.
After thanking her director (Tarog) and the film crew, she also pointed out that she shares this award with the other Filipinos in the competition. She singled out some of her fellow actresses such as Alex de Rossi of “Kita, Kita.” Other performers included Nathalie Hart and JC De Vera, who were part of “Tisay.”
Showbiz Reactions To Iza’s Win
Piolo Pascual, who was present at the awarding ceremonies, posted an Instagram video of Iza’s acceptance speech. He also congratulated the actress in his post, saying: “Congrats, B! You made us proud!”
Film Development Council of the Philippines Chaiperson Liza Dino-Esguerra also greeted Iza for her achievement. In a Facebook post last Saturday, she shared her greetings from her and the Council.
Iza, formally known as Maria Izadora Calzado, is currently working with ABS-CBN’s “A Love To Last.” She also thanked her “A Love To Last” family, saying how thankful she was for their support. Ian Veneracion, who is also a cast member of the TV series, is also part of the cast of “Bliss.”
More About Bliss
In a CNN Philippines report, Tarog and Calzado shared a little bit more about the film. For Tarog, it was a film that he considered as “the most demanding film” he has ever made, more demanding than “Heneral Luna.”
Calzado on the other hand, described the script as “far out” and that it challenged the norms of conventional storytelling. According to the report, the film is narrated in a “non-linear fashion.”