Kyla Danelle Romero (left) and co-director/co-writer Arvin Belarmino. Image: Marinel Cruz/INQUIRER.net
The cheers haven’t died down from Cannes, yet the team behind “Agapito” already has another reason to celebrate.
The short film, co-directed by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero, has been officially selected for the Short Cuts Programme at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), running from Sept. 4 to 14 in Canada.
“I’m excited because this is also its North American premiere,” Belarmino told Inquirer Entertainment in a recent interview. “We’re excited to find out what the reception of the audience there will be.”
Romero recalled how she and the team first received the news: “Nagtawagan kami kaagad. We suddenly got the email. The first person who got it was the producer, Kristine de Leon. She was like, ‘Buksan n’yo email nyo!’ That very night, we already celebrated.”
The TIFF news comes fresh on the heels of the film’s screening at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where “Agapito” competed in the Short Film category. For the team, Cannes was both overwhelming and affirming. “Nung nakapasok ang film sa Cannes, we felt so fulfilled,” Belarmino said. “And for us to be featured in Toronto, which is one of the biggest festivals, it’s like ‘another one!’”
Set in a vintage duckpin bowling alley in Bulacan, “Agapito” follows Mira, a young pinsetter, and her brother Junior as they navigate the rhythms of their lives and the weight of family ties in a space that becomes a character in itself. The film blends the nostalgia of simple spaces with the energy of youthful defiance and dreams.
For Nour Hooshmand, who plays Mira, the progression from Cannes to Toronto feels surreal. “Sobrang nakaka-excite kasi ‘di namin inexpect na kagagaling lang namin ng Cannes tapos papasok ng Toronto. We feel so proud. Cannes was all too sudden. At least with Toronto, we have a little bit more time to plan what to wear, where to go, what to do.”
Actors Jeremy Mayores (left) and Nour Hooshmand recall their overwhelming Cannes experience. Image: Marinel Cruz/INQUIRER.net
Cast member Jeremy Mayores echoed the thrill of leveling up after Cannes. “The experience there was so overwhelming. By this time, I’m hoping we will already have a game plan. In Cannes, while we planned certain activities, we would suddenly be told, ‘Dapat tayong umattend nito kasi kailangan natin ng exposure.’ All those opportunities we cherished. But with Toronto, we will be more sure of what we want to do and achieve.”
The film’s ensemble also includes André Miguel as Junior, Anton Nolasco, Veronica Reyes, Bullet Dumas, Rhon Mercene, Zee Narciso and Joel Garcia.
For them, the project has always been more than a film — it has been a family.
That bond deepened with the recent passing of veteran actor Garcia, who plays a key role in the story. “It was always his dream to attend these festivals,” Hooshmand shared. “Kaya kami ni Jeremy, we said, ‘Gawan natin ng paraan. Kailangan natin makapunta doon para kay Tatay Joel.’” Mayores added, “Before he passed away, he knew about the Toronto trip. That gives us goosebumps.”
Producers Carlos Ortiz, Leo Liban and Jon Galvez of 901 Studios have been just as emotional. “Every time we get these kinds of emails, we still get overwhelmed. Iyakin kaming lahat,” Ortiz said. “‘Agapito’ is one of our first projects. We’re all very close, so all the news is shared with everyone. Tapos kailangan magkitakita — we’re very clingy.”
For a studio that only began making films late last year, the recognition is staggering. “To be a part of these projects within a year and getting results this fast, sobrang nakaka-proud,” Ortiz added. “For us, as new players in the industry, it’s a confirmation of some sort. While it’s nice to feel delulu sometimes, you still need to be grounded.”
901 Studios’ Carlos Ortiz is one of the producers of “Agapito.” Image: Marinel Cruz/INQUIRER.net
Romero credits belief in the story’s smallness and honesty as key to its reach. “Technically, it’s a very small story and is just about a small group of people in a bowling alley, as well as relationships between siblings — but everyone believed in its power. As much as possible, we want all of them to attend these festivals with us. We all deserve this. We always go in a group.”
Belarmino added that the process itself has been magical. “It felt like family. The film has a certain magic that the Universe seems to understand pretty well. It’s because of that very caring and healthy process of how we did the film.”
From Cannes to Toronto, the “Agapito” team is proving that stories from small corners of the Philippines can strike a chord on the world stage, said Ortiz. As they head to TIFF, they’ll be carrying with them not just a film, but the memory of a colleague, the pride of a community, and the dream of a new generation of Filipino filmmakers. /ra
