Asian First Film Festival 2005 Won Swarovski Trophy Best Film Auraeus Solito    Berlin International Film Festival 2006 Won Crystal Bear - Special Mention Best Feature Film Auraeus Solito  Won Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix Best Feature Film Auraeus Solito  Won Teddy Best Feature Film Auraeus Solito    Cinekid 2006 Won Cinekid Film Award - Honorable Mention Auraeus Solito    Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2005 Won Balanghai Trophy Best Production Design Lily Esquillon  Won Special Citation Nathan Lopez  For the acting performance. Won Special Jury Prize Full-Length Feature Auraeus Solito  Nominated Balanghai Trophy Best Film Auraeus Solito    FAP Awards, Philippines 2006 Nominated FAP Award Best Picture Best Director Auraeus Solito  Best Actor Nathan Lopez  Best Supporting Actor Ping Medina  Best Screenplay Michiko Yamamoto  Best Production Design Clint Catalan  Christina Dy  Lily Esquillon    Gawad Urian Awards 2011 Won Dekada Award Best Film of the Decade (Natatanging Pelikula ng Dekada) Auraeus Solito  2000-2009   Gawad Urian Awards 2006 Won Gawad Urian Award Best Picture (Pinakamahusay na Pelikula) Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) Michiko Yamamoto  Best Cinematography (Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya) Nap Jamir  Best Editing (Pinakamahusay na Editing) Clarence Sison  Auraeus Solito  Nominated Gawad Urian Award Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) Auraeus Solito  Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor) Nathan Lopez  Best Supporting Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor) Soliman Cruz  Best Supporting Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor) Ping Medina  Best Production Design (Pinakamahusay na Disenyong Pamproduksiyon) Clint Catalan  Christina Dy  Lily Esquillon  Best Music (Pinakamahusay na Musika) Pepe Smith    Golden Screen Awards, Philippines 2006 Won Golden Screen Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama, Musical or Comedy) Soliman Cruz  Nominated Golden Screen Award Best Motion Picture (Independent/Digital) UFO Pictures  Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama, Musical or Comedy) Ping Medina  Breakthrough Performance by an Actor Nathan Lopez  Best Director Auraeus Solito  Best Original Screenplay Michiko Yamamoto  Best Cinematography Nap Jamir  Best Editing Clarence Sison  Best Production Design Clint Catalan  Christina Dy  Lily Esquillon  Best Musical Score Pepe Smith    ImagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival 2005 Won Jury Award Best Dramatic Feature Auraeus Solito    Independent Spirit Awards 2007 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Foreign Film Auraeus Solito  Philippines.   Las Palmas Film Festival 2006 Won Audience Award Auraeus Solito  Won Best Actor Nathan Lopez  Tied with Israel Gómez Romero for La leyenda del tiempo (2006). Won Golden Lady Harimaguada Auraeus Solito    Montréal World Film Festival 2005 Won Golden Zenith Auraeus Solito    Online Film & Television Association 2007 Nominated OFTA Film Award Best Foreign Language Film The Philippines   Rotterdam International Film Festival 2006 Won Netpac Award Auraeus Solito  For the human portrayal of life on the margin and the touching performance of Nathan Lopez who ... More   Star Awards for Movies 2006 Won Star Award New Movie Actor of the Year Nathan Lopez  Digital Movie of the Year Digital Movie Director of the Year Auraeus Solito    Sundance Film Festival 2006 Nominated Grand Jury Prize World Cinema - Dramatic Auraeus Solito    Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2006 Nominated Grand Prize Auraeus Solito    Tokyo FILMeX 2006 Nominated Grand Prize Auraeus Solito    Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2006 Won Best Feature Film Auraeus Solito    Warsaw International Film Festival 2006 Nominated Grand Prix Auraeus Solito

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The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Filipino: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) is a 2005 Filipino coming-of-age film about a gay teen who is torn between his love for a young cop and his loyalty to his family. The film competed under 1st Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2005. The film was the official entry of the Philippines to the 79th Academy Awards. It holds the distinction of being one of the very few digital films released in 2005 to do well at the tills. It also made the rounds of international film festivals.

Synopsis
Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy who lives in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves. The story primarily revolves around the conflict between his love for handsome young police officer Victor (JR Valentin), and his family''s illegal livelihood. Neo-realist in orientation, the film is a tale of lost innocence and redemption amidst the poverty of Manila''s slums.

Maxi behaves like a girl, wearing clips or hairband in his hair and bangles on his wrists and even wearing lipstick. He is teased by neighbors and former school friends. His sexuality is, however, fully accepted by his two brothers and by his father. One night, he is accosted by two men who attempt to molest him, but is saved by the appearance of Victor. Victor does not have a girlfriend and his sexuality is kept ambiguous. However, he does rebuff Maxi''s advances. In a key event, Maxi''s father, his brother Bogs, and Bogs'' friends hatch a plan to teach Victor a lesson. They leave him bloodied and beat up. Just as Victor saved him, it was Maxi who arrived to rescue Victor and stopped the beating. He then went on to clean Victor''s wounds and cook breakfast for him. Maxi felt sorry and felt somehow responsible for his demise. Victor then affectionately stroked Maxi''s hair and Maxi stole a kiss.

After Maxi''s father is killed by Victor''s boss, Maxi resists Victor''s attempts to renew their friendship. The closing scene shows Maxi walking past Victor who has parked by the roadside on Maxi''s way to school. He ignores Victor as he passes him, hesitates momentarily as he crosses the road, then goes on his way. This last scene is a homage to the final scene of "The Third Man".