‘Firefly’ director Zig Dulay on what’s better than winning awards
Zig Dulay also values compliments not just for his directorial feats and flair but more so for how he has retained his integrity and ideals as a director, who started out in indie productions and crossed over to TV and now, mainstream cinema.
Firefly replicated its 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture and Best Screenplay (by Angeli Atienza) wins just over a month later at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival, held on 3 February in Los Angeles, California. It also bagged the Best Director award for Zig Dulay and the Best Supporting Actress trophy for Alessandra de Rossi in the filmfest that aims to help Filipino movies make a mark in Hollywood and in the international cinema.
Dulay expressed gratitude for his Best Director award at the thanksgiving lunch that the film's producers, GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, recently gave to the press. He also told DAILY TRIBUNE at the event that he considers the accolade more of a big bonus after the film achieved both critical acclaim and box office success.
Firefly captured the hearts of critics and moviegoers alike with its heartfelt and heart-warming narrative of how a young boy (Euwenn Mikaell) finds courage and closure while on a journey to fulfill a promise to his recently deceased mother (De Rossi).
Dulay said he's appreciative of the positive feedback he gets about the movie. "Lagi't-lagi 'yung mga nagme-message sa akin na sobrang naalala nila 'yung nanay nila na nawala o nawala 'yung mahal nila sa buhay. 'Yung habang pinapanood nila ang pelikula, bumabalik ang kabataan nila. Mas nare-retain 'yun kasi ibig sabihin, may sure ball ako na taong na-touch gamit ang pelikula (Oftentimes, I get messages from moviegoers who remembered their deceased mother or loved ones. While watching the movie they recall their childhood. Such feedback is retained in my memory because it means at least one person was surely touched by the movie)."
He also values compliments not just for his directorial feats and flair but more so for how he has retained his integrity and ideals as a director, who started out in indie productions and crossed over to TV and now, mainstream cinema.
"Mas gusto kong i-keep ang ganoong pagtingin sa akin na tinignan ko as high regard ko. Mas mataas pa 'yun sa mga awards (I'd rather keep that kind of feedback to high regard. It's above those awards)," he pointed out.