Once a silent underdog, Firefly has soared to new heights, conquering Filipino audiences and now achieving international acclaim.
In a recent interview with Manila Standard Entertainment, Nessa Valdellon of GMA Films delved into the impact of Firefly beyond its triumph in clinching the Best Picture award at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held in Los Angeles early this month.
Valdellon, serving as a producer, highlighted how Firefly – written by Angeli Atienza and helmed by Zig Dulay, featuring Alessandra De Rossi and the young talent Euwenn Mikaell – played a pivotal role in reaffirming GMA Films’ reputation as a film outfit that produces compelling stories.
“As a producer, Firefly truly marked a milestone for GMA Pictures. It reinstated our reputation as a studio dedicated to crafting credible, captivating narratives with high production value, reminiscent of our past successes like Jose Rizal and Muro Ami, both consecutive Best Picture winners at the MMFF in 1998 and 1999. It’s about returning our brand to its roots, and that’s what Firefly accomplished for GMA Films,” Valdellon remarked.
The film executive was excited to share that they are brewing a few projects they want to share with their audience, “compelling stories that will start a conversation.”
“We have a lot of secret projects. We have a lot in the pipeline. Right now we are working with National Artist Ricky Lee for another MMFF project. We’re also working with film producer Enrico Santos on one of our projects,” Valdellon revealed.
For Atienza, the film’s screenwriter, the most gratifying aspect of doing the film was witnessing the discussions it sparked on social media platforms. She found validation in the emotional responses and reflections from viewers, indicating that the film had successfully achieved its intended impact.
“They were talking about what they felt about the film, their responses were so emotional and strong. Just from that alone, we felt rewarded, like our fatigue had been lifted. It was heartening to see their analysis of the film through their social media posts, some even included videos. And they tagged us. Just from that, we felt like we had fulfilled the film’s purpose, to elicit reactions from people,” the screenwriter reacted.
Atienza also mentioned that it wasn’t easy to fork out money from audiences’ own pockets to watch the film.
“To pay to watch a movie and then be satisfied afterward, it’s an honor for us, so we are grateful to everyone who watched,” Atienza continued.
For the film director, more than awards, what mattered to him was the connection the film made with the audience.
“That’s what happened with Firefly. Even before winning at the MMFF, on our first and second days in theaters, we received numerous personal messages, it felt so good to see their support for the film. So many people were touched. Some people even felt emotionally healed. We achieved more than just what was in the film, it was the connection the film created, not just the feeling but the experience they wanted to share with others after watching the film,” said Dulay.
“Making a film is difficult, it involves time, effort, and money. So we were striving to fulfill its purpose. We felt the love of the people. It’s not just an achievement, it’s an inspiration to make another film. Our greatest achievement was having many people watch and share their experience with others,” Dulay reiterated.
As for De Rossi, she was grateful for the support of the audience and their appreciation for the unique flavor the film brought to them.
“As an actor, it’s heartwarming that for someone who always has a partner in the film and has a love angle, people will still watch you even if it’s not the genre you usually offer, that’s incredibly fulfilling for us,” the actress said.
Following its Best Picture win at MIFF, the Firefly team was awarded a $200,000 co-producing package by Birns and Sawyer for the production of a US-based feature film.
The 49th MMFF Best Picture awardee, ‘Firefly’ narrates a moving story about family, dreams, and bravery, as the young Tonton, portrayed by MMFF Best Child Performer Euwenn Mikaell, embarks on a journey to find the mystical island of fireflies based on his mother’s bedtime stories.
The film also stars Dingdong Dantes, Epy Quizon, Ysabel Ortega, Miguel Tanfelix, Cherry Pie Picache, Yayo Aguila, Kokoy de Santos, and Max Collins.