Arvin Belarmino, a familiar name in the Philippine indie circuit for his Cinemalaya shorts, just took a bold step with “Agapito” making it to the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
According to Belarmino, he originally missed a call from the Cannes Festival but as soon as it was confirmed that the film he co-directed with Kyla Danelle Romero, was selected for the prestigious 78th Cannes Film Festival, emotions exploded.
“Grabe si Kyla, hindi makahinga. Nag-iiyakan kami sa call nun… Baka naba-Black Mirror lang ako?” Belarmino recalled in an interview with The Philippine Star as he described the emotional phone call with Romero and producer Carlos Ortiz.
Agapito, which follows a duckpin bowling alley manager caring for her brother with cerebral palsy, is deeply personal. Belarmino says the story was inspired by his own brother.
“I really love him… he’s the reason why I keep things grounded.”
Romero, meanwhile, calls the film “an ode” to her late father, a sports coach who opened a facility in Cavite.
Set in a real duckpin alley in Bulacan, Agapito blends magical realism with the quiet struggles of Filipino workers.
The film marks Belarmino and Romero’s first co-directing effort and continues their Cannes streak after Radikals and Silig.
“For some reason, the universe is giving us Cannes. It’s really a blessing, and we are so honored to somehow represent the country,” he said.
Earlier this month, the team launched crowdfunding efforts to attend the premiere. With the all-Filipino cast and crew now in Cannes, Belarmino couldn’t be prouder.
“How sweet it is to experience that with the actors na sobrang deserve.”
