44th Gawad Urian Awards

44th Gawad Urian Awards
Date	October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
Site	Virtual awards ceremony
Highlights
Best Picture	Aswang
Most awards	Aswang (4)
Most nominations	Midnight in a Perfect World and Watch List (11)
←  43rd Gawad Urian Awards 45th  →

The 44th Gawad Urian Awards (Filipino : Ika-44 na Gawad Urian) is held on October 21, 2021, honoring the best of Philippine cinema in 2020. ^[1] Established in 1976, the Gawad Urian Awards highlights the best of Philippine cinema as decided by the Filipino Film Critics. ^[2] Due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the awarding ceremony is done virtually and livestreamed in the organization's YouTube channel. ^[3] Aside from the traditional awards, the organization also chooses to honor some of the best films and performers over the past decade. The Natatanging Gawad Urian , an equivalent to the Lifetime Achievement Award, is conferred to venerated filmmaker, Lav Diaz. ^[1]

The Best Picture award is given to Alyx Ayn Arumpac's Aswang , a documentary about President Rodrigo Duterte's national drug war. It is the first documentary film to win the award. ^[4]

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and bolded. ^{[4] [5]}

Best Picture Pinakamahusay na Pelikula	Best Director Pinakamahusay na Direksyon
Aswang A Thousand Cuts Hayop Ka! Kintsugi Lahi, Hayop Midnight in a Perfect World Watch List	Alyx Ayn Arumpac – Aswang Antoinette Jadaone – Fan Girl Avid Liongoren – Hayop Ka! Ben Rekhi – Watch List Dodo Dayao – Midnight in a Perfect World Dolly Dulu – The Boy Foretold by the Stars Irene Villamor – On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets Joselito Altarejos – Memories of Forgetting Lav Diaz – Lahi, Hayop Lawrence Fajardo – Kintsugi Ramona S. Diaz – A Thousand Cuts
Best Actor Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor	Best Actress Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktres
Nanding Josef – Lahi, Hayop Adrian Lindayag – The Boy Foretold by the Stars Elijah Canlas – He Who Is Without Sin Enchong Dee – Alter Me JC Santos – On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets Keann Johnson – The Boy Foretold by the Stars Noel Escondo – Memories of Forgetting Zanjoe Marudo – Malaya	Alessandra de Rossi – Watch List Bela Padilla – On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets Charlie Dizon – Fan Girl Cristine Reyes – UnTrue Glaiza de Castro – Midnight in a Perfect World Jasmine Curtis-Smith – Alter Me Lovi Poe – Malaya Shaina Magdayao – Tagpuan Sue Ramirez – Finding Agnes
Best Supporting Actor Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor	Best Supporting Actress Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktres
Micko Laurente – Watch List Dino Pastrano – Midnight in a Perfect World Enzo Pineda – He Who Is Without Sin Jake Macapagal – Watch List Jess Mendoza – Watch List	Dexter Doria – Memories of Forgetting Hazel Orencio – Lahi, Hayop Bing Pimentel – Midnight in a Perfect World Lolita Carbon – Lahi, Hayop Sandy Andolong – Finding Agnes
Best Screenplay Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula	Best Cinematography Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya
Lahi, Hayop Hayop Ka! Kintsugi Memories of Forgetting Midnight in a Perfect World On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets The Boy Foretold by the Stars Watch List	Aswang Alter Me Fan Girl Finding Agnes Kintsugi Lahi, Hayop Magikland Malaya Memories of Forgetting Midnight in a Perfect World The Boy Foretold by the Stars UnTrue Watch List
Best Production Design Pinakamahusay na Disenyong Pamproduksyon	Best Editing Pinakamahusay na Editing
Memories of Forgetting Alter Me Finding Agnes Kintsugi Magikland Malaya Midnight in a Perfect World On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets UnTrue Watch List	Memories of Forgetting A Thousand Cuts Alter Me Aswang Hayop Ka! He Who Is Without Sin Kintsugi Magikland Midnight in a Perfect World Watch List
Best Music Pinakamahusay na Musika	Best Sound Pinakamahusay na Tunog
The Boy Foretold by the Stars Fan Girl Hayop Ka! Midnight in a Perfect World On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets The Highest Peak	Midnight in a Perfect World Aswang Fan Girl Hayop Ka! Kintsugi Lahi, Hayop Watch List
Best Short Film Pinakamahusay na Maikling Pelikula	Best Documentary Pinakamahusay na Dokyumentaryo
Ola Ang Bahagharing Uhaw sa Ulan Dad-aan Na Isang Daa't Isang Mariposa My Father Is an Astro-Not Next Picture Noontime Drama Pabasa Kan Pasyon Yawyaw ni JP	Aswang A House in Pieces A Thousand Cuts Buklog Elehiya sa Paglimot Masterpiece
Best Animated Film Pinakamahusay na Animasyon
Hayop Ka!

Special Award

Natatanging Gawad Urian

• Lav Diaz

Gawad Dekada Para sa Mga Natatanging Pelikula*

• Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim – Arnel Mardoquio
• Ang Pagsayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa – Alvin Yapan
• Babae at Baril – Rae Red
• Baboy Halas – Bagane Fiola
• Balangiga: Howling Wilderness – Khavn
• BuyBust – Erik Matti
• Damgo ni Eleuteria – Remton Siega Zuasola
• Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan – Lav Diaz
• Respeto – Treb Monteras
• Tu Pug Imatuy – Arnel Barbarona
• Women of the Weeping River – Sheron Dayoc

Gawad Dekada Para sa Mga Natatanging Aktor at Aktres*

• Alessandra de Rossi
• Angeli Bayani
• John Lloyd Cruz
• Nora Aunor

*These awards are bestowed to celebrate the previous decade in films.

Multiple nominations and awards

Films that received multiple nominations

Nominations	Films
11	Midnight in a Perfect World
	Watch List
8	Lahi, Hayop
7	Hayop Ka!
	Kintsugi
	Memories of Forgetting
6	Aswang
	On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets
	The Boy Foretold by the Stars
5	Alter Me
	Fan Girl
4	A Thousand Cuts
	Finding Agnes
	Malaya
3	He Who Is Without Sin
	Magikland
	UnTrue

Films that won multiple awards

Awards	Film
4	Aswang
3	Lahi, Hayop
	Memories of Forgetting
2	Watch List

References

1. ABS-CBN News (October 21, 2021). "44th Gawad Urian: Complete list of winners". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
2. "About MPP". Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP). January 17, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
3. TVUP (October 21, 2021). 44th Gawad Urian . Retrieved September 3, 2025– via YouTube.
4. Cruz, Marinel (October 25, 2021). "2021 Gawad Urian's best pic 'Aswang' on Duterte's drug war is also best docu". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
5. Severo, Jan Milo. "FULL LIST: 44th Gawad Urian 2021 nominees". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.