The much acclaimed film “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) won yet another string of awards at the recently-concluded Berlin International Film Festival.

The picture won three awards in the prestigious filmfest, namely: 1) The Grand Prix of the Kinder Filmfest division, the same award that was bestowed on another well crafted Filipino film, “Magnifico,” in 2004.

2) The Teddy Best Feature Film. “Maximo” was cited for “its joyous, convincing portrayal of a queer boy by living in an environment of acceptance and tolerance.” This award, given to a film with a gay theme, was also won in 1988 by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna’s “Ang Lalaki sa Buhay ni Selya.”

3) Best Picture from the international jury (plus a special mention from the Children’s jury.

Earlier this month, “Maximo” also garnered the Best Asian Film Award at the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) of the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Netherlands.

Last year, the film bagged the Best Film Award at the CineMalaya International Film Festival in Manila, followed weeks later with two similar awards from the international film festivals of Toronto and Montreal.

“Maximo” also screened at the recent Sundance Film Festival and, though it didn’t win an award, was well received and merited rave reviews from Indiewire and Variety, said Auraeus Solito, the young director of what is so far the most awarded Philippine film this year.

“Maximo” is a coming of age film written by Michiko Yamamoto, from whose pen also came “Magnifico,” which has already amassed 40 local and international awards for Violett Films.

The film centers around Maximo (played with much aplomb by newcomer Nathan Lopez), a gay subteen who awakens to his sexuality amidst the grinding poverty of the slums and the unquestioning tolerance of his family.

Guests spot ‘bad omens’ at Aiko-Martin wedding

At the wedding of Aiko Melendez and Martin Jickain last week, the groom confirmed a rumor that had been swirling around days earlier. Aiko was two months heavy with his child, Martin proudly announced at the well attended wedding and reception at the Quezon City Fernwood Gardens that drew most of the A List of show business.

Mixed emotions

Guests noted that the groom looked edgy throughout the ceremony and laughed nervously during much of the reception while the bride did not look too radiant. But many also noted how Aiko, in her mid 30s, looked serenely happy marching down the aisle with her 23-year-old groom.

Martin’s mother did not attend the wedding, lending credence to the rumor that the lady disapproves of her son’s intended. Mrs. Jickain, who is separated from Martin’s father, asked to be excused because of a nasty little illness that came right smack on her son’s wedding, of all times.

Another report said that Aiko’s mother didn’t look too pleased either. She, too, is said to be against the union.

The groom’s father, a defrocked priest, gave a longish homily that had some of the guests yawning, said one report.

Still another account said that Aiko’s brother Jam Melendez was not asked to the wedding, sending the man into fits of self-pity and rage. Aiko is said to be angry at her brother because of his recent brushes with the law that mortified Aiko, a councilor of Quezon City, no end.

It was Aiko’s second marriage and the first for Martin, a male model with show business aspirations. She was previously married to actor Jomari Yllana, with whom she has a 6-year-old son.

N.Y. weather delays shoot of GMA 7 soap

Everything is in place regarding “I Love New York,” the teen soap that Mark Herras and Jennylyn Mercado will shoot in the Big Apple. But because of the unpredictable weather conditions here, GMA 7 is resetting the shoot in April, which is better for the Empire State to show her vibrant spring colors.

Mark and Jen are coming with a 20-member production crew that has promised to showcase all that the Big Apple has to offer. The network says it has the necessary permit to shoot every nook and cranny of New York. Well, almost.

One crew member says that since shooting is not patago, the way visiting film crews did in the past, the finished film should be superior in every technical and creative way. Aber, sige nga.

By the way, doesn’t GMA 7 anticipate copyright problems regarding their use of the title “I Love New York?” The network better look into this before flying here.