After his film made the cut as one of the eight entries to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), director Lemuel Lorca said he had full confidence in their LGBTQ-themed project, Broken Hearts Trip, headlined by 2021 MMFF Best Actor winner Christian Bables.

“I believe na nakapasok siya because of the merit of the film. Mahuhusay ang mga artista ko. They have the track record especially Christian every year nananalo. Maganda ang track record niya sa MMFF. Ang writer namin just won sa Venezuela ng writing for Siglo yung last movie namin. So I have to give credit to the people behind camera and nasa harapan ng camera. I think we’ve given more than a 100% of our time and talent here. Feeling ko deserve nila makapasok sa MMFF. So far naman after we released the trailer, we got nothing but positive feedback sa trailer,” he said. 

KILALANIN: Cast ng MMFF entry na ‘Broken Hearts Trip’

Before his film was announced as part of the MMFF, direk Lemuel said he did not want to think about it and feel the pressure.

“Hindi po ako nanunuod ng announcement. Sila ang pinabayaan ko manuod kasi ayoko ma-tense (laughs). I was having lunch with my parents sa Mauban, Quezon. Yun lang yung ginagawa ko and then an hour later after the announcement, yung line producer namin, kapitbahay ko kasi siya, nagsisisgaw sa kalsada so nagtahulan yung mga aso. Ang ingay ingay niya. Sigaw ng sigaw na parang may naaksidente, nasagasaan sa kalsada. Tapos yun pala binalita niya sa akin na nakapasok pala. So dun lang ako nagulantang sa balita, dun sa happy news na yun,” he recalled. 

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Known for directing mostly independent films, direk Lemuel said he is thankful to be given a chance to share their story to a wider audience this year.

“It’s a fun film so people should give it a chance na makita nila. Sabi nga ni direk Andoy (Ranay), hindi siya malalaking artista pero ganun din ang Cinemalaya, CineFilipino which I am proud to be part of in the past. Which has maliliit na pelikula kung tawagin sa industriya pero sila yung nagbibigay ng karangalan sa bansa. Dun ako galing, sa independent community. And bigyan niyo rin naman kami ng chance na maka-experience din ng mainstream, na maibahagi namin sa mas maraming audience ang aming mga pelikula,” he added. 

READ: Christian Bables admits almost having a sugar mommy: ‘Inalagaan niya ako parang baby!’

In Broken Hearts Trip, lead star Christian plays the role of a host and judge of a reality travel show that features the lives of five brokenhearted LGBTQ individuals who are given a chance to heal in some of the most beautiful places in the country. Direk Lemuel admitted he’s never done more traveling for a shoot than in this project.

“Nagpunta kami sa Cebu sa Kawasan Falls. Then we went to Pagudpod in Ilocos Norte, then Mount Banahaw in Lobo, Batangas. At saka sa Magdalena, Laguna for whitewater rafting. Ang masasabi ko lang, napakahirap mag-shoot ng travel (laughs). Buti na lang magaling ang producers namin. From our line producer, supervising producer, production managers, financers namin, yung mga producers namin sila dapat yung mabigyan ng credit dito eh kasi sila yung nagkasa ng shooting nito .Sila talaga yung naghirap magkasa nito so i have to give them the credit para mabigyan ng tamang budget yung experience namin. Parang as if hindi kami namoblema kasi sila yung pumasan ng lahat ng problema. Magagaling ang producers namin magtipid. Magaling sila mag-budget,” he said. 

Broken Hearts Trip is written by Archie Del Mundo and produced by Benjie Cabrera, Omar Tolentino, Power Up Workpool Inc., BMC Films, and Smart Films. Catch the film Broken Hearts Trip as part of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival starting December 25 in cinemas nationwide.