HOW RURU MADRID MANIFESTED MMFF DEBUT

Ruru Madrid was grateful for being given the opportunity to star in his first Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry as prison guard Xavier Gonzaga in "Green Bones."

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

He said he manifested the role last year when he watched 2023 MMFF's Best Picture and Best Screenplay winner "Firefly" by Zig Dulay, who's also the director of "Green Bones."

"Last year, when I watched 'Firefly,' parang bigla kong naramdaman nang nanonood kami ni Bianca (Umali, his girlfriend), I told her, 'Mahal, I feel that I will have an MMFF (project) next year,'" he recalled during an interview with select press, including The STAR.

His manifestation materialized this year after he was cast in Zig's latest film alongside Dennis Trillo.

"When I read the script, I said, 'It was meant to be.' That's how I feel. And I'm very grateful to be part of this project because it's a solid and beautiful story," he added.

The inspirational drama is presented by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs and is co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment, Dennis' film production outfit with wife Jennylyn Mercado, and distributed by Columbia Pictures for Sony Pictures Releasing International.

It is based on the original concept of GMA Public Affairs senior manager for documentaries JC Rubio, written by National Artist Ricky Lee and MMFF 2023 Best Screenplay winner Anj Atienza.