The only Filipino short film entry in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Agapito proves that Filipino filmmakers don’t need to westernize their narratives to achieve universal appeal.

Agapito writers and directors Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero shared with the DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday the importance of groundedness—particularly in visual storytelling—in transforming the intimacy and emotional depth of a deeply personal film into something both universal and cinematic.

"One of the foundations of our cinema is groundedness. When it comes to visuals, we weren’t aiming for grandeur, we kept it low-key yet beautiful. Our goal was to capture the place and the characters as one. There’s a particular scene that looks theatrically grand, but the treatment remains grounded,” Romero explained.

She emphasized that a simple treatment humanizes a film and connects even with the most casual viewers.

“The best way to capture emotion is to appeal to the simplest of viewers. Hindi kailangan sobrang grand, minsan kailangan may puso lang (It doesn’t need to be grand, sometimes, it just needs heart)," she added.

Romero also shared how watching a wide range of films has helped her better understand the world, as each film opens a window into new perspectives and realities.

“You live only one reality, but when you watch films, you get a glimpse of many more,” she quoted from a phrase she just read.

Meanwhile, Belarmino stressed that compelling stories can often be found close to home—familiar, personal, and culturally rooted.

“Nai-inspire akong magkwento ng mga kuwentong galing lang sa bakuran, kung saan ako nakatira,” he said.

(I’m inspired to tell stories that come from my own backyard, where I live.)

He highlighted that for aspiring filmmakers, putting a personal touch on stories is what makes them unique and relatable, regardless of how many times a similar story has been told.

“Huwag silang matakot magkuwento kahit na parang naikwento na. Imposible naman ‘yun, parang naikwento na lahat. Pero magiging unique siya kapag somehow connected siya sa experience mo, o sa’yo bilang tao. I think they need to take the risk. Kasi doon lalabas ang pagiging grounded. Doon din lalabas ang pagiging universal," he said.

(Don’t be afraid to tell a story even if it seems like it’s been told before. That’s impossible, almost everything has been told. But it becomes unique when it’s connected to your personal experience or identity. That’s when groundedness and universality emerge.)