PAOLO Ballesteros bagged the coveted Best Actor trophy at the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) in Japan.
The "Eat Bulaga" host was recognized for his portrayal of a transgender woman in Jun Robles Lana's film "Die Beautiful."
"I thought I was up for Best Actress," the actor jokingly said.
But kidding aside, Ballesteros, during his acceptance speech, thanked the festival jury for embracing the film and to everyone who contributed in making the movie possible.
"To the organizers, to the programmers, to the volunteers, you have been very helpful and gracious to us during our stay here in Japan. To the man behind the film, Direk Jun, thank you very much for entrusting to me Trisha's character."
He also thanked his family, daughter Keira and the Filipino fans who wished the movie well in the festival.
"To all my Dabarkads, and to my fans in Manila and all around the world... Best actor. (And) especially to all of you who came and watched our film, I will never forget you. Thank you very much."
"Die Beautiful," a film which tells the story of Trisha Echevarria, a Filipino transgender woman who makes a living as a beauty contestant and suddenly dies while being crowned in a pageant, also won the Audience Award at TIFF.
Meanwhile, another Filipino film bagged a trophy in Japan.
Mikhail Red's "Birdshot" won the Best Asian Future Film Award.
The son of seasoned filmmaker Raymond Red, the director dedicated his win to the Philippines and to all young Filipino filmmakers.
"This is for everyone who wanted to fly but was shot down, and for everyone who wanted to speak out but was silenced. This is for the eagles and this is for my country, the Philippines," he said.
Red is the youngest director in the competition. (Sunnex)
