Gayle Oblea's short film "As The Moth Flies,'' has made it to numerous film festivals abroad, including the Brussels Short Film Festival.
Now, Filipinos get to enjoy it via Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival.
Gayle revealed during a press conference the most terrifying moment she and the rest of production experienced while shooting the film.
"That is, re-shooting everything," she shared. "Originally when we wrote this, it was meant for a different actress, but the actress disappeared."
She added, "Kumbaga It was the last day of the shoot. I remember crying to Kuya Epy [Quizon] and kay tito Alvin Anson about it. And the worst part is that she was paid, so when she bailed out it was quite the huge problem to the point that it triggered an episode where I couldn't get up off my bed."
Gayle didn't mention the name of the actress, making known that they have since patched things up.
"Mahaba yung reason niya, pero in a nutshell, she got scared because there are scenes in the film na R-18 talaga," Gayle related.
"But what's funny is that they read the script prior and they agreed. So, I think there was a change of heart on her part talaga kasi I think the manager also discouraged her to push through with it noting she might not get to do commercial activities after," Gayle continued.
Despite all the hurdles, Gayle and her team didn't lose hope.
They eventually found a new lead star in Mina Cruz.
"I saw Mina Cruz, through one of the entries in the Silent Film Festival, and I said to myself, 'Mina looks exactly like the character for my film,'" she said.
Thankfully, Mina immediately said yes when she offered her the part.
"I think it was a blessing in disguise because we were able to improve on the scenes we shot. We made it better. At the same time, I think the universe really want it to happen," Gayle intoned, going on to praise Mina, describing her an "amazing actress."
"As The Moth Flies" is competing in the short film category of this year's Sinag Maynila Independent Film Festival, slated from Sept. 4 to 8in various cinemas across Metro Manila.
Gayle said, “As the director of ‘As The Moth Flies’, I am deeply honored and thrilled to bring the film to its Asian premiere in the Philippines, where the story’s roots resonate most profoundly.
“After its journey through festivals across Europe and the United States, having this homecoming is not just a milestone but a full-circle moment.
"This screening is significant not only because it returns to where the narrative was born, but because it carries the mission of the film: to open a window into the mind of someone living with mental illness.
“The aim has always been to go beyond observation, allowing audiences to experience — if only for a moment— the weight, discomfort, and complexities faced by those who struggle silently.
“By holding this premiere in Manila, we hope to break the silence and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, using empathy as a bridge to understanding," she ended.
The 15-minute film follows the story of a woman who tries to assess her mentally ill partner and their turbulent relationship, only to discover haunting truths about an unsettling past.
Apart from Mina, the cast also includes Epy Quizon, Pam Arambulo and Boo Gabunda.