Kapamilya actress Janine Gutierrez has won the Rising Star Award for her role in Dito at Doon at this year's New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

On Twitter on Sunday, August 8, Janine, whose film Babae at Baril served as the opening movie at the festival last year, expressed her gratitude to NYAFF for granting her the recognition.

"so honored!!!! thank you @NYAFF!! second year to have a film part of your festival and I was so sad that for the second time, we're still unable to attend - but now I'm just filled with gratitude," she said in her tweet, before thanking the award-giving body for "supporting Filipino films and creatives."

so honored!!!! thank you @NYAFF!! second year to have a film part of your festival and I was so sad that for the second time, we're still unable to attend - but now I'm just filled with gratitude 🙏🏼 thank you for supporting Filipino films and creatives! 🤍🤍 https://t.co/0ESxEWo2yY

— JANINE (@janinegutierrez) August 8, 2021

Aside from Janine, other honorees of the Rising Star Award include South Korea's Bang Min-A for the movie Snowball, and Japan's Sosuke Ikematsu for The Asian Angel.

In Dito at Doon, Janine plays the role of headstrong political science major and no-boyfriend-since-birth Len, who engages in an online argument with JC Santos's Caloy, a student working part time as a delivery rider, at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown last year. While their first interaction was anything but romantic, the two eventually find themselves getting closer through the power of virtual communication.

Dito at Doon is helmed by JP Habac, whose works include the 2017 romcom film I'm Drunk, I Love You and the hit 2020 boys' love series Gaya Sa Pelikula.

Also starring Yesh Burce and Victor Anastacio, with the special participation of Janine's mom Lotlot de Leon, the movie with the international title Here and There made its world premiere at the 2021 Osaka Asian Film Festival last March, before it premiered locally on March 17.

READ: Director JP Habac reveals possibility of ’Dito at Doon’ sequel

Dito at Doon will have its North American premiere at the NYAFF via its Next/Now program section, which highlights "emerging voices and promising works by up-and-coming directors."

The festival, billed as North America’s leading festival of Asian cinema, will run until August 22.