Following his triumph as best actor at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, Filipino star John Arcilla said he hopes to conquer the cinema with global projects.
"I want to be open to a bigger process. I want to be a global actor. I want to be in that stature na ready na ako sa global projects," said Arcilla during a Zoom press conference hours after he won the best actor award for the movie "On the Job: The Missing 8" at the Venice International Film Festival last Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time).
Arcilla, 55, said that his victory brings hope to the Filipino movie industry.
"It means the whole world to me. It also brings up the dignity of my family. It also brings up the hope for our industry and for our fellow Filipino artists that we're now being noticed not just as filmmakers but as actors. This will also give way to other Filipino talents," said the award-winning actor when asked what the award meant to him.
Arcilla also dedicated the trophy to his father and two siblings, who passed away this year.
"I dedicate this award sa tatlong taong nawala sa akin - father ko at dalawang kapatid ko. Malaking bahagi talaga ang family ko when it comes to creating characters. Mga inspirasyon ko sila. Sila yung mga unang fans ko," he said. "Noong nanalo ako sa Metro Manila Film Festival, lumabas talaga yung kapatid ko ng bahay at pumunta sa mga tiyahin ko. Ganun ka proud ang brother ko sa akin. Wala kaming masamang tinapay ng kuya ko. Sila yung unang nagiging masaya kapag may ganito akong achievement. Sister ko naman masayahin na talagang naglulupasay na. Ganun siya tapos bigla siyang nawala. I know she's very, very happy for me. Sa clan ko rin, I dedicate this award. Clanish kasi kami. At sa mga artista na natutuwa sa mga achievements ko."
Arcilla now joins the elite group of Hollywood actors who have won the same recognition. A-listers include Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Adam Driver, Colin Firth, Sean Penn, and Willem Dafoe.
In "On the Job: The Missing 8," directed by Erik Matti, Arcilla plays a corrupt journalist for a local newspaper.
Asked about his take on corruption, Arcilla said: "Sa tutoo lang, masyado ng obvious (ang corruption). Hindi lang naman ngayon. Lahat ng naging administrasyon, may mga dumaan na iba't ibang klase ng corruption. Hindi ko na sya kailangan i- elaborate because it is being seen and being felt right now ng mga kababayan natin.
"Kung hindi tayo gagawa ng move, pumili tayo ng mga taong maglilingkod sa atin at unahin yung kapakanan ng mga mamayahan, hindi yung mga kapakanan ng mga kaibigan.That is too much.
"At kapag hindi tayo nagusap-usap at bigyan natin ito ng solution, this will not just stay, this will worsen. So kailangan na natin maging matalino bilang mamamamyan. Nagawa na natin ito noong mga nakaraang panahon. Gawin natin ito muli," the actor said.