Direk Romm Burlat nominated Best Actor along with Dingdong Dantes, Dennis Trillo, Raymond Bagatsing, Ogie Alcasid, Paolo Contis and Louise Abuel in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards

Direk Romm Burlat is in Cloud Nine upon receiving the information that he got nominated as Best Actor for his performance as a weird, slightly mentally-ill father of a carnivorous son in the horror-drama-suspense thriller, "Tutop" (International Title: Covered Candor) in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards. "Until now, the news still didn't sink in. Am I dreaming?", says Burlat. "We did the film because it has long been planned for me to direct a horror film with a heart. It took me a year before I decided to produce "Tutop". When it was about to start filming, I backed out as director so I can fully concentrate on acting as Precensio, the lead of the film. I then called a director-friend whose forte is horror. Thus, it ended on the lap of Direk Marvin Gabas.", the amiable director added.

"Tutop" is an excruciating, demanding, exhausting role for me since I don't only use my senses to portray the guilt, anger, pity, hatred and love of being a Precensio but I have to be physical in many scenes. I kill notorious people like hold uppers and prostitutes for the sake of my son. It's a total gamut of emotions playing the character but it's all worth it. I watched a few Jack Nicholson films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Postman Always Rings Twice to give me a bird's eye view of how a cuckoo really behaves.", Direk Romm said in an interview.

Aside from Burlat, the other nominees for Best Actor are: Ogie Alcasid for "Kuya Wes", Louise Abuel for "Edward", Raymond Bagatsing for "Quezon's Game", Dennis Trillo for "Mina-Anud", Paolo Contis for "Through Night and Day" and Dingdong Dantes for "Syd and Aya: Not A Love Story".

"Nomination for me is enough. Let the "acting veterans" win the award. I am already overjoyed by the fact that films from small-time producers can still be considered vis-a-vis the mainstream films. It is a good sign in the Philippine showbiz industry. Normally only those being produced by big movie outfits like Star Cinema, Viva and Regal but now things have changed which is a good sign that everyone has a chance, small or big actors alike", Burlat ended.

(Note: Covered Candor (Tutop) has just been included in the Top 6 Finalists for Best Feature Film in the international film awards,  Oniros Film Awards in Italy. Ms.Faye Tangonan is also a finalist as Best Supporting Actress)