Julia Christine Botin

'Song of the Fireflies' team grateful for win in MIFF

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741575235274SOTF producer Girlie Rodis thanks the MIFF.JPG" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Song of the Fireflies&quot; producer Girlie Rodis thanks the MIFF. Photo credit: Katie Ortiz and Hartman Communications</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>The team behind the movie musical &quot;Song of the Fireflies&quot; is thankful after winning big at the 2025 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held in Los Angeles California over the weekend.</p><p>“Song of the Fireflies,” from the same producers of “Ang Larawan,” won the Audience Award for Best Film, Best Actress for lead star Morissette, Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Alejandro, Best Supporting Actor for Noel Comia, Jr., and a Special Award at its world premiere. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741575301752Morissette holds her MIFF Best Actress trophy.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">Morissette holds her MIFF best actress trophy. Photo credit: Katie Ortiz and Hartman Communications</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Produced by Culturtain Musicat Productions, “Song of the Fireflies” tells the story of the internationally renowned Loboc Children’s Choir (LCC). It follows the journey of Alma Taldo, a choir master in the 1980s and her gifted young singers, as they navigate the tough series of choral competitions starting in Bohol, all the way to the national competition in Manila. The movie was written by Sarge Lacuesta.</p><p>Morissette, Alejandro, producer Girlie Rodis, and director King Palisoc attended the MIFF Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, made possible by a travel grant from Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s QC Film Development Commission. Also present was PR and campaigns director Victor Harry Hartman, who joined the team to show his support for their milestone at the MIFF.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741575399174MIFF Best Actress Rachel Alejandro.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">MIFF Best Actress Rachel Alejandro. Photo credit: Katie Ortiz and Hartman Communications</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>“It feels very different to be up here receiving an award that’s not for my voice and for my singing,” Morissette, 28,  said in her acceptance speech. </p><p>Morissette, a first-time movie actress, thanked Culturtain’s Celeste Legaspi, Rodis and Alejandro for their trust. Morissette shared the accolade with the entire production team, her acting coach Bombi Plata, and her co-stars, the Loboc Children’s Choir whom Morissette described as the film’s “real stars.”</p><p>Director Palisoc accepted the Best Supporting Actor trophy on behalf of Comia who was not able to make it to the world premiere in Hollywood. </p><p>King explained that work on the movie began in 2018 but actual filming commenced in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic. </p><p>“It took us five years before we filmed Noel. One of the things we really hoped for was to keep the original cast… So one of the best blessings was having Noel in our film. We’d like to thank Noel for a great, great performance,” King said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741575450710SOTF director King Palisoc.JPG" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">&quot;Song of the Fireflies&quot; director King Palisoc. Photo credit: Katie Ortiz and Hartman Communications</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>In a post on Facebook, Alejandro shared her happiness winning the best supporting actress award and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rachel.alejandro/posts/pfbid02FuGTsRXzXM9toPjvAAzSsreFxA6UNq9QWa5MGpqz4pZvGKvA1eABed8nUwiUXaJ6l" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dedicated her win to her father, Hajji Alejandro</a>.</p><p>“In the end, all I could think of was my Dad…. Then I felt a surge of gratitude and awe for the miracles that have been transpiring in our lives,” she said. </p><p>In a press release, Hartman Communications CEO Victor Harry Hartman — the one who proposed to Culturtain to place “Song of the Fireflies” in the MIFF and the movie’s head of communications — said movies like &quot;Song of the Fireflies:&quot; deserve &quot;to be seen beyond the seemingly ‘congested’ milieu of Metro Manila.&quot;</p><p>That’s why I told the producers, ‘Let’s bring it to Hollywood!” Hartman said.</p><p>On Facebook, executive producer Rodis wrote: “To the audience who warmly received our film in our world premiere, I cannot say enough words of gratitude at your response.” She also thanked former Bohol Governor Arthur C. Yap for his continued support. </p><p>“Song of the Fireflies” is produced by Culturtain Musicat Productions in cooperation with MQuest Ventures, the Quezon City Film Development Commission, Quezon City Government and CMB Films. MQuest Ventures is targeting a summer release for the musical film. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/3/8/manila-international-film-festival-honors-hello-love-again-mmff-stars-and-icons-1112" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Manila International Film Festival honors “Hello, Love, Again”, MMFF stars, and icons</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2NQmcA8nlwI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/amn44UsI0tc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The team behind the movie musical 'Song of the Fireflies' is thankful after winning big at the 2025 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held in Los Angeles California over the weekend.</p>

The team behind the movie musical 'Song of the Fireflies' is thankful after winning big at the 2025 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held in Los Angeles California over the weekend.