Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

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Sigrid Bernardo
Bernardo in 2017
Born (1984-08-19) August 19, 1984 (age 41)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
  • actress
Known forDirector of Kita Kita

Sigrid Andrea Bernardo is a Filipino film director, screenwriter, producer, and actress best known for directing the highest-grossing Philippine independent film Kita Kita (2017). Bernardo is a graduate of Theater Arts at the University of the Philippines and pursued a scholarship at the Tanghalang Pilipino under the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Her thematic-conscious films focus on topics such as human rights, women, political, social issues and culture studies.

Career

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Bernardo's first feature length film Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita (2013) was selected at the Produire au Sud in France Nantes and also bagged Best Picture at the CineFilipino Film Festival.

Her 2017 film Kita Kita, starring Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy Marquez and set in Sapporo, Japan was deemed a sleeper hit.[1][5] In its third week it reached ₱300 million, making it the highest-grossing Philippine independent film.[6] It had its world premiere in Japan at the 12th Osaka Asian Film Festival in March 2017 before expanding to a wider release in the Philippines on July 19, 2017 to highly positive reviews.[7] In 2017, Kita Kita was selected as the best romantic-comedy film in the last 25 years, as polled by CNN Philippines.[8]

She got to work again with de Rossi and Marquez in the movie Walang Kaparis which was released on Amazon Prime Video in March 2023. It became the No. 1 movie in the Top 10 Movies in the Philippines on its release week.[9]

Among her other films include Untrue (2019), Mr. and Mrs. Cruz (2018), and Lorna (2014).

Bernardo bagged the Movie Director of The Year award for Untrue at the 37th Star Awards for Movies. The film was also hailed as Movie of the Year at the awards ceremony.[10]

Win Metawin and Janella Salvador to star in Bernardo's Under Parallel Skies

In July 2023, it was announced that Bernardo would be directing the cross-country film Under Parallel Skies starring Metawin Opas-iamkajorn of Thailand and Janella Salvador of the Philippines. The movie was shot in Hong Kong and co-produced by 28 Squared Studios and Two Infinity Entertainment.

"With this cross-country collaboration, the actors can bring their own unique skill sets and experiences, which can help enrich the story and give more authenticity to the characters they play," she said about directing the cross-border movie.[11]

"I aim to create a film that celebrates the unique identities and traditions of each culture while also exploring common themes and experiences that unite us as human beings," she added.

Bernardo also directed short films including Babae (2005), Little (2009), Au Revoir Philip (2010), and Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong (2012).[12]

She won Best Director in Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for her directorial work in Babae. The short film also won Best Short Film in Cinemagaylesbico International Film Festival in Milan, Italy.

Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong was selected for the Cinemalaya Film Festival and bagged the Best Screenplay award. It also won the honorable mention at the Exground Film Festival in Wiesbaden Germany.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Cast(s) Notes
2007 Rights Director, writer Lilia Corpuz, Ernesto Corpuz ("Lost and Found"); Hershey Abarico, Herson Abarico ("Bangka o Eroplano") "Lost and Found" and "Bangka o Eroplano" segments
2013 Ang Huling Cha-cha ni Anita Director, writer Angel Aquino, Therese Malvar, Jay Bordon Selected at Produire au Sud in Nantes, France, won Best Picture and Best Ensemble at the CineFilipino Film Festival, and Special Mention award at the Osaka Asian Film Festival
2014 Lorna Director, writer Shamaine Buencamino, Maria Isabel Lopez, Raquel Villavicencio Selected as a finalist for Cinema One Originals
2017 Kita Kita Director, writer Alessandra de Rossi, Empoy Marquez Won Star Awards for Movies 2018 for Movie Director of the Year and Movie Screenwriter of the Year
2018
 Mr. & Mrs. Cruz Director, writer Ryza Cenon, JC Santos Its lead star Ryza Cenon received the Yakushi Pearl Award from the Osaka Asian Film Festival
2019 UnTrue[13] Director, writer Christine Reyes, Xian Lim Premiered at the Tokyo Film Festival; Won Movie Director of the Year at 37th Star Awards for Movies
2023 Walang Kaparis Director, writer Alessandra de Rossi, Empoy Marquez Became No. 1 on Prime Video's Top 10 Movies in the Philippines on its release week [14]
2024 Pushcart Tales Director, writer Nonie Buencamino, Shamaine Buencamino Entry to the 1st Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival
Under Parallel Skies Director, Writer Janella Salvador, Metawin Opas-iamkajorn
2025 I Fell, It's Fine Director Rhian Ramos, Glaiza de Castro (In Development)[15]

TV Show

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Year TV Show Role Episode Ref.
2008 Case Unclosed Director Magsaysay Plane Crash [16]

Web series

[edit]
Year Web series Role Ref.
2022 Lulu Director, writer [17]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations received by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Awards and Nominations
Organization Year Nominated Work Category Result Ref.
CineFilipino Film Festival 2013 Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita Best Picture Won [18]
2016 Special Citation Won
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2005 Babae Best Director - Short Film Won
Best Short Film Nominated
2012 Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong Best Screenplay - Short Film Won
Best Short Film Nominated
Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival 2014 Lorna Best Picture Nominated
The EDDYS 2018 Kita Kita Best Screenplay Nominated [19]
2021 UnTrue Best Director Nominated
Gawad Urian Awards 2018 Kita Kita Best Director Pinakamahusay na Direksyon Nominated [20][21]
Best Screenplay Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula Nominated
Luna Awards 2018 Best Direction Nominated [22]
Best Screenplay Nominated
Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2015 Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita Best Film (Special Mention) Won [23]
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2014 Special Mention Won [24]
Grand Prix Nominated
2017 Kita Kita Best Film Grand Prix Nominated [25]
2018 Mr. & Mrs. Cruz Nominated [26]
PMPC Star Award for Movies 2014 Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita Indie Movie Director of the Year Nominated
Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Nominated
2018 Kita Kita Movie Director of the Year Won
Movie Screenwriter of the Year Won
2022 UnTrue Movie Director of the Year Won
Movie Screenwriter of the Year Nominated
San Diego Short Film Festival 2025 Angelite Best Picture Won
Best Foreign Language Film Won

References

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  1. ^ Flores, Karen (August 4, 2017). "Go on a Kita Kita tour of Sapporo, Japan". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  2. ^ San Diego Jr., Bayani (July 27, 2017). "Sleeper hit surprises indie director". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "Like Kita Kita, 7 other local films that became surprise blockbusters". ABS-CBN News. August 3, 2017. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  4. ^ Lopez, Jacinda A. (August 1, 2017). "Kita Kita Stars Alessandra + Empoy Have A New Film In The Works". Cosmopolitan Philippines. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  5. ^ [2][3][4]
  6. ^ "'Kita Kita' passes 'Heneral Luna' as PH's top grossing indie movie". ABS-CBN News. August 10, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "9 PH films in Osaka fest". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  8. ^ "The 25 best Filipino rom-coms of the last 25 years". CNN Philippines. August 4, 2017. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "Walang Kaparis, No. 1 sa Prime Video Top 10 in The Philippines". Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  10. ^ "John Arcilla, Sylvia Sanchez, Alessandra de Rossi bag acting awards at Star Awards for Movies". Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  11. ^ "Win Metawin and Janella Salvador Star in New Romance Film, 'Under Parallel Skies'".
  12. ^ "Meet the director behind 'Kita Kita,' the Philippines' highest grossing indie film". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  13. ^ "Untrue | Viva Communications Inc". viva.com.ph. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  14. ^ "Walang Kaparis, No. 1 sa Prime Video Top 10 in The Philippines". Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  15. ^ Crucillo, Karen Juliane. "Rhian Ramos, Glaiza De Castro to star in new GL film 'I Fell, It's Fine'". www.gmanetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
  16. ^ GMA Public Affairs (2024-09-25). MAGSAYSAY PLANE CRASH | Case Unclosed. Archived from the original on 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2025-05-16 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Salterio, Leah C. (February 9, 2022). "LGBT artist Rita Martinez gets big break in girl's love series 'Lulu'". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025.
  18. ^ Jr, Bayani San Diego (2013-09-24). "Split decision at first CineFilipino". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  19. ^ Abanilla, Clarizel (2018-03-17). "2018 Eddy Awards official nominees released". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  20. ^ Villano, Alexa (2018-05-22). "FULL LIST: Gawad Urian 2018 nominees". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  21. ^ Severo, Jan Milo. "FULL LIST: 2018 Gawad Urian nominees". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  22. ^ Padayhag, Michelle Joy L. (2018-05-23). "Gawad Urian 2018 nominees announced". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  23. ^ Batislaong, Acer (2023-04-03). "Love Wins (And Hurts) In These Filipino Queer Films". nylonmanila.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  24. ^ Aguila, Ren (2014-03-19). "Woman not enough: The filmic journey of director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  25. ^ "9 Filipino films included in lineup of 2017 Osaka film fest". PEP.ph. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  26. ^ Jr, Bayani San Diego (2018-03-18). "PH scores double victory in Osaka Asian Film Festival". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-10-14.