A brother’s name, a nation’s story: ‘Agapito’ heads to Cannes
Filmmaker Arvin Belarmino is back on the red carpet at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival—only this time, he’s not walking it alone. “Agapito,” his latest short film codirected with longtime collaborator Kyla Romero, has earned a coveted spot in this year’s official line-up.
For Belarmino, the Cannes thrill isn’t new—but this return hits different. Last year, he competed in the festival’s Critics’ Week section with his short film “Radikals.” This time, not one but two of his projects are in the spotlight: “Agapito” and “Ali,” a short film he and Romero cowrote, directed by Bangladeshi filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev.
“It’s super exciting because this time, I’ll be celebrating with my codirector Kyla and our entire team,” Belarmino told Lifestyle, when reminded that this isn’t his first Cannes rodeo. “We’re also looking forward to all the films we’ll get to watch at Cannes this year. It really recharges our batteries as creatives—to be introduced to different kinds of cinema and culture.”
That creative “recharging” might just come in handy. “Agapito” is a joyful ode to everyday love, friendship, and support set in one of the unlikeliest places: a bowling center.
“It’s about a group of friends who work at Agapito Bowling Center,” Belarmino explained. “They’re a lively bunch who’ve become like family—always supporting and lifting each other up. One moment in the film shows them rallying behind their colleague Mira, who’s about to be visited by her sibling.”
When asked about their creative process, Romero shared insights into her long-standing partnership with Belarmino. “We’ve been collaborators and coartists for a long time. We’ve figured out how to balance each other out. Whenever one of us goes ‘wild’ with ideas, the other becomes the voice of reason.
“Since we’re both wildly creative beings, there are times when our ideas clash,” she added. “That’s when we do what we call grounding—stepping away from the board or the paper and going back to people or places that fuel us, that help us think straighter.”
Grounding
Their “grounding” go-tos: trips to Luneta Park or Quiapo—places that hold special meaning for both. “Or just doing random, ‘human’ things like eating ice cream, people-watching, and playing a round of color game,” said Romero.
Once they’ve regained their creative footing, it’s back to the drawing board—sometimes to write directly on it, sometimes to break it entirely. “Most of the time, it’s the latter,” Romero admitted, “which is probably why we always end up with very unique films and out-of-the-box narratives.”
She described their collaborative method as “a roller coaster ride,” but one that delivers. “Moments like this, and films like ‘Agapito’ and ‘Ali,’ prove that our kind of collaboration works.”
Asked what message he hopes will resonate most with Filipino audiences, Belarmino replied: “It’s natural for people, especially Filipinos, to act with love in whatever they do. Even though we face so many challenges in life, we always have our family, friends, and loved ones to remind us we’re never alone. The movement and flow of love among us—that’s what truly matters.”
“Agapito” boasts a cast of fresh talents and bold performances, including Nour Hooshmand, Andre Miguel, Anton Nolasco, Jeremy Mayores, Veronica Reyes, Joel Garcia, Bullet Dumas, Rhon Mercene, and Zee Narciso.
The film is a tribute to Belarmino’s late brother, Agapito “Jay Ar” Belarmino, and is produced by a coalition of studios: 901 Studios, Astral Creatives, Crowning Glory, Limit Break, Katalog, D.W., and Daluyong Studios.
Meanwhile, acclaimed indie director Lav Diaz’s latest work, “Magellan,” starring Gael Garcia Bernal, is featured in the Cannes Premiere section—a showcase for works by established auteurs. The 78th Cannes Film Festival will take place from May 13 to May 24 in France.
