MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) A fantasy film about robots made from recycled material battling evil forces copped the coveted 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture plum during the Awards Night Saturday at the SMX Mall of Asia Convention Center in Pasay City.

Imus Productions and Ignite Media?s ?Resiklo? bested eight other entries in the annual filmfest, including the favorites ?Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo? (2nd place) from Star Cinema and ?Enteng Kabisote 4: Okay Ka Fairy Ko (The Beginning of a Legend)? (3rd Place) from M-Zet Productions/OctoArts Films.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, meanwhile, won Best Actor for Maverick Films? ?Katas ng Saudi? a story of the plight of returning Overseas Filipino Workers. Maricel Soriano, on the other hand, won the Best Actress award for her stellar performance in Regal Entertainment?s ?Bahay Kubo.?

First-time director and GMA-7 news reporter Cesar Apolinario won Best Director for his maiden project, ?Banal.?

Jose Javier Reyes, meanwhile, won Best Screenplay for ?Katas ng Saudi.? Roi Vinzons bagged the Best Supporting Actor plum for ?Resiklo.? Eugene Domingo, on the other hand, won Best Supporting Actress for ?Bahay Kubo?.

The Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award was given to Regal Entertainment?s ?Bahay Kubo? and Maverick Films? ?Katas ng Saudi.?

?Resiklo? led all in technical plums, with Best Visual Effects (Ignite Media), Best Cinematography (Jay Linao), Best Editing (Jay Halili), and Best Sound (Ditoy Aguila).

Meanwhile, the creative awards were spread almost evenly among entries. Mae Cruz and Cesar Apolinario won Best Story for ?Banal,? while Nash Aguas won Best Child Performer for ?Shake, Rattle and Roll 9.?

Von de Guzman won Best Musical Score for ?Bahay Kubo? and Rusty Fernandez composed the Best Original Theme Song, ?Wala Na Bang Pag-asa?? for ?Anak ng Kumander.?

Rodel Cruz won Best Production Design for ?Resiklo? and Rosalinda Lopez took home Best Make-Up for ?Desperadas.?

?Desperadas? was also named the festival?s Most Gender Sensitive Film.

Bayani San Diego, Jr. and Marinel Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer