Toronto, Ontario
Beats kababayan Rogelio Balagtas
Teodoro ’Ted’ Alcuitas
Thirteen-year-old Liam Diaz was picked best actor in a leading role in tonight’s 10th Canadian Screen Awards, beating kababayan Rogelio Balagtas.
The young actor from Mississauga, Ontario thanked his family and the Scaborough family for his win.
Diaz, one of the youngest actor to win the award, plays the role of Bing in the movie ‘Scarborough’, a movie adaptation of the novel by Filipino-Canadian author Catherine Hernandez.
Besides winning best actor, Scarborough came out on top, winning best motion picture, an achievement in direction.
The 10th Canadian Screen Awards was held to honour achievements in Canadian film, television and digital media production in 2021.
Rogelio Balagtas was nominated for his role as Joshua in the Filipino-made film ‘Islands’ – a story of a middle-aged Filipino immigrant in Canada who has lived with his parents all his life. When his mother suddenly dies and his father’s health declines, he quits his job to look after his father full time.
Directed by Martin Edralin of Toronto and produced by Edralin and Priscilla Galvez, the film was originally scheduled to be shot in the Philippines. Funding constraints forced the filming to move to Canada – in Scarborough.
Balagtas is from Winnipeg as well as the other cast member -Shiela Lotuaco. Other cast include Esteban Comilang, Vangie Alcasid,Bianca Yambanis and Pablo S. J. Quiogue,