Award-winning actress Alessandra de Rossi has always dreamt of working with a child actor in a lead role. Now she plays the mother of Euwenn Mikaell in the movie "Firefly," an official entry for the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival.

"Okay naman si Euwenn. Matagal ko ng gustong gumawa ng pelikula na may batang bida na something touching, heartwarming. Sabi ko perfect ito. Buti na lang cute siya. Marami na ring akong ka-eksena na bata in the past. Young mother ako rito. Mother of a ten-year-old,"  said Alessandra, when asked what made her accept the project, during a media conference in Quezon City recently. 

(Euwenn is okay. I have long wanted to make a movie with a young star that is something touching and heartwarming. I said it's perfect. He's cute. I've had many scenes with children in the past. I'm a young mother here. Mother of a ten-year-old.)

Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, the movie "Firefly" follows a young boy's quest to find the mythical island of fireflies from his mother's bedtime stories. The boy embarks on a journey to a magical island, using clues from his mother's old notebook to wish her back to life.

The story begins with the adult Tonton (Dingdong) being interviewed by a skeptical journalist after winning the National Book Award. The interview unravels the origin of his stories.

Elay (Alessandra) is a mother who loves to share bedtime stories with her son to encourage him to be brave and to make the most out of life.

Tonton (Euwenn) is a 10-year-old inquisitive, sweet, and smart boy who is often bullied and ridiculed by the big kids in school.

To encourage Tonton, Elay tells him a story of bravery set on a magical island filled with fireflies. She tells him that the island is real and that you could make a wish if you ever made it there. In an old notebook, Elay draws a map to the island. In his heart, Tonton forms a plan to get there and wishes for one thing: to be brave.

On the road, he meets three strangers who will either help him or hinder his quest.

Aside from Euwenn and Alessandra, part of the ensemble cast are Ysabel Ortega, Miguel Tanfelix, Cherry Pie Picache, Epy Quizon, Yayo Aguila, and Kokoy de Santos, with the special participation of Max Collins and Dingdong Dantes.

Alessandra, 39, accepted the project because of her friend, acclaimed director Zig Dulay.

"One of the factors kung bakit ako nag-say yes sa project is Director Zig. Gusto ko kasing balikan 'yung experience na magandang magtrabaho yung kaibigan mong magaling, masaya kasama. At saka maganda talaga yung kwento," she said. 

Angeli Atienza, who wrote the screenplay, talked about her inspiration for "Firefly."

"As a mother, lagi mong iniisip kung ano yung iiwan mo sa mga anak mo. Ano yung kakapitan nila kapag wala ka. Something to inspire your children kapag sila na lang. Mga 2019 pa po ito. Before the pandemic, ready na kami mag shoot. May mga test shoots na kami nun pero nagka pandemic. Pero okay na rin kasi now napaghandaan. Mas prepared kami."

(As a mother, you always think about what you will leave to your children. What will they hold on to when you are gone? Something to inspire your children when they are alone. It was conceptualized in 2019. Before the pandemic, we were ready to shoot. We already had test shoots, but a pandemic happened. But it's okay because now we're prepared. We're more prepared.)

Senior Vice President for GMA Pictures Nessa Valdellon commented: "It is a big film. It is meant to be seen on the big screen. Ang ganda nag pagkaka shoot ng cinematographer namin si Neil Daza. We wanted to wait for a possible festival. We're expecting that to do well. All the official entries in the MMFF are beautiful so the audience will return for the festival."

Zig also tackled the challenge of making "Firefly."

"Noong kinausap ako for this project, challenging siya kasi lubog ako sa realism tapos biglang magic realism. Iba yun. Kaya tinanggap ko yung challenge. Tumatanda na rin ako so gusto kong gawin yung mga hindi ko pa nagagawa. 

(When approached for this project, I was challenged because I was immersed in realism and then suddenly magic realism. That's different. That's why I accepted the challenge. I'm also getting older, so I want to do things I still need to do.)

"Medyo mahirap siya sa tutoong buhay at mahirap siya pero lagi ko ngang sinasabi, kapag gusto mo, gagawin mo. Mahal mo yung ginagawa mo kahit na gaano kahirap yun. Ilalaban mo talaga. Mahirap gawin pero enjoy. Noong bata tayo meron tayong certain magic na napanood na hindi natin nakakalimutan at forever mo ng dadalhin. 

(It's a bit difficult in real life, but I always say you'll do it when you want to. You'll fight for it. It's hard to do, but I enjoy it. When we were kids, we had a certain magic that we watched that we will never forget and that you will carry with you forever.)

"So andun sa puso mo na gusto kong magawa yun. Palagay ko ma-a-achieve mo lang yun kapag maraming makakapanood nito. Tulong-tulong talaga kaming lahat sa paggawa ng magic realism. Nailaban naman namin at proud kami para ma-share ito sa tao. Iba talaga ang experience kapag mapapanood mo ito sa sinehan," the director said.

(So it's in your heart that you want to do that. You can only achieve that when a lot of people can watch it. We all help one another in making magic realism. We fought, and we're proud to be able to share it in person. It's a different experience when you watch it in the cinema.)

Award-winning cinematographer Neil Daza further highlights the film’s cinematic masterpiece. Catch 'Firefly' in theaters beginning Dec. 25.