"Firefly," a heartwarming movie that went home with the Best Picture award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival, received a warm reception when it debuted in Hollywood, California recently.

"It was heartwarming to see how the Filipino-American community, and even non-Filipinos in the audience, responded to the film. Many of them approached us after the screening to say they were able to relate to it. We were happy to see the film connect to an international audience," said Angeli Atienza, who wrote the screenplay for the award-winning Filipino movie, during a media conference held in Quezon City recently.

Atienza added: "The Filipino-American audience felt nostalgic about the Philippines; they were emotional after the screening. I was surprised many of them lingered in the cinema afterward to talk to us. It was so special to see.

"We always wondered how the international audience would react to the movie, and it's so good to know that it still had the same effect, and many could relate to Firefly," she said.

Alessandra De Rossi, star of the movie, also said: "Universal din kasi ang topic."

"Firefly" producer Nessa Valdello also shared why she thinks the movie was successful.

“I think our background in documentary production has been key to our success in filmmaking and narratives in general. When you work in documentaries or magazine shows, as we all did, you are used to having no budget, so you learn how to do everything yourself. We were on the field, directing our shoots, conducting interviews, and writing the stories. Then, as I started working in The Probe Team, we had to do our segment editing as we had no budget for editors. Being intimate with all aspects of production, you can create a full, distinct piece on your own.

"And then you have a group of people who all have that ability to produce, you put them together, and they see projects holistically -- not just the creative side, not just the budgeting, not just the editing. They are truly showrunners.

"Then add to that, we are used to talking with people, ordinary people - victims of crime, child laborers, commuters, case studies who've experienced so much poverty or live in the remote parts of our country. This has helped us become better storytellers. We don't pluck our characters' backstories out of our imagination -- so many of them are based on real people we once featured on our public affairs programs. If you ask Anj why Firefly's story started in Baseco, it's because, as a young producer, she shot there often for her show Reporter's Notebook. Asking why the film ended on the magic firefly island, her team from Born To Be Wild documented this beautiful cave island called Ticao in Bicol, and she never forgot it. Her story was woven from elements of real life and from stories of real people she met as a journalist ... and that's what made it so rich," said Valdello.

From being the silent underdog to becoming the 2023 MMFF big winner, ‘Firefly’ continued its victorious streak abroad as it won the most awards at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood – including the highly-coveted Best Picture honor.

The film produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs also took home three more awards and three nominations during the MIFF Awards Night last Feb. 3: another Best Screenplay for GMA Public Affairs SAVP and Firefly creator Angeli Atienza; Best Director for award-winning film and TV director Zig Dulay; and Best Supporting Actress for highly-acclaimed actress Alessandra de Rossi.

Present during the awarding ceremony were GMA Network’s Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and President of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, who accepted the Best Director award on behalf of Zig Dulay; Angeli Atienza; and Firefly actress Ysabel Ortega, who accepted the Best Supporting Actress award on behalf of Alessandra de Rossi. Sparkle GMA Artist Center VP Joy Marcelo and Firefly actor Dingdong Dantes joined them.

Following their Best Picture win, the ‘Firefly’ team was awarded a $200,000 co-producing package by Birns and Sawyer to produce a US-based feature film.

The 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Picture awardee, ‘Firefly’ narrates a moving story about family, dreams, and bravery as the young Tonton, portrayed by MMFF Best Child Performer Euwenn Mikael, embarks on a journey to find the mystical island of fireflies based on his mother's bedtime stories.

The film won Best Screenplay and 15 nominations at the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal last December.

Zig Dulay, director of "Firefly, said he did not expect to win Best Director in two-award-giving bodies.

"Hindi ko ine-expect yung pagkapanalo sa totoong buhay kasi para sa akin, na-achieve ng pelikula nang sobra-sobra yung purpose niya kung bakit siya ginawa. 

"Unang una, nung ginawa namin, siyempre nilalaban namin kasi unfair sa pelikula na hindi ka umasa na hindi siya makapasok ng MMFF kasi lahat kami naniniwala kami sa ginawa namin, so umaasa kami na makapasok.

"Tapos nung nakapasok, parang naging isang mahabang journey ng pakikipag bakbakan ‘yung Firefly. Nung nakapasok, paano siya ipo-promote, ibang stage din ‘yun. Kasi ang lalaki ng mga artista din ng mga kalaban and it feels na pinaghandaan talaga siya. First time ko na ‘ganito pala yung MMFF, super event pala talaga siya, parang ganon," Dulay added.