PH-Japan film festival brings Vice Ganda, Jun Lana closer to overseas audience

March 3 ------ It was laughter, tears, and heartfelt gratitude on the first day of the Philippines–Japan Film Festival as Vice Ganda and Jun Robles Lana met audiences following the screening of "Call Me Mother" and "About Us But Not About Us."

For Vice Ganda, the moment marked a milestone. “It was actually a wonderful experience. First time kong um-atend ng film festival abroad,” Vice said, visibly thrilled. “Ganap na ganap ako.” Although her previous film "Praybeyt Benjamin" was screened at the Busan International Film Festival, this was her first time personally attending an international festival.

She described the joy of watching Japanese and Filipino audiences respond similarly to how viewers in the Philippines did during the Christmas run of "Call Me Mother." “Yung tawa nila, tapos 'yung iyak nila sa dulo, ganun din 'yung nakita at naramdaman ko dito. Ibig sabihin, nasapul namin 'yung goal namin,” Vice said. The comedy superstar also expressed hope that the film would find wider distribution across Japan, noting how surreal it felt to see Japanese subtitles running alongside English translations.

Lana echoed Vice's sentiments, praising the cinematic quality of Japanese theaters and admitting he was tempted to turn around during the screening after hearing someone quietly sobbing behind him. “Nakakatawa, nakakagulat na mag-share sila ng personal stories,” he said, recalling a Japanese father who told him he was deeply moved by the film and gained a renewed appreciation for his wife after watching it.

Three Filipino entries were helmed by Lana, prompting Vice to jokingly dub the event a “Jun Robles Lana Film Festival.” Vice also pledged her full support for the director’s new film "Sisa," saying she would back it wholeheartedly, even joking about mounting a block screening if she could not attend the premiere. “Of course, susuportahan ko si Direk,” she said.

Japanese benefactor

One of the most touching moments of the interview came when Vice shared the story of a Japanese woman who supported her education from grade school until her second year in college. Vice revealed that a woman named Noriko Tokura sponsored her schooling through a Japanese-Filipino scholarship program for gifted students. “Malaking bahagi ng kung anong laman ng utak ko ngayon eh dahil sa kanya,” Vice said. “She sent me to school. Hindi ko siya na-meet ever. Through letters lang.”

The two exchanged weekly letters, but Vice lost the correspondence over the years due to fires and relocation. Despite attempts to trace her benefactor, Vice has yet to reconnect with her. Vice also made an emotional public appeal, thanking Tokura. “Thank you, thank you very much, Ms. Noriko Tokura. For giving me education, for sending me to school. A big part of who I am right now, I owe it to you.” She added that she hopes one day to personally meet and thank the woman who helped shape her future.

Success

Masumi Soga, CEO of Spanic Films LLC and representative of the Philippine Film Festival Executive Committee, described the event as a major success. Soga revealed that she first became interested in Lana’s work after watching one of his films at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, saying she “fell in love” with it and found its emotional core relatable to Japanese audiences. Screenings of "Call Me Mother" were sold out over two days, with a mix of Filipino and Japanese viewers filling theaters. The Philippine Embassy in Japan also supported the initiative, helping raise awareness.

Soga admitted one of the biggest challenges is encouraging Filipinos in Japan to watch films in Japanese theaters, where English subtitles are not commonly provided. Still, she considers the turnout a breakthrough. “Already successful in bringing the Philippine audience, maybe many of them for the first time to see a film in a Japanese theater,” she said. As the festival continues, both Vice Ganda and Lana hope this marks the beginning of more international collaborations and screenings.

Source: philstar.com