Bela shines in Tokyo

“Mañanita” director Paul Soriano and Bela Padilla at the red carpet of Tokyo Film Festival. Filipino-Japanese Journal

Bela Padilla, together with director Paul Soriano, graced the red carpet at the prestigious 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) to represent Mañanita last 28 October.

Produced under Ten17P and Viva Films and penned by award-winning filmmaker Lav Diaz, Mañanita is among the eight Filipino films featured in the festival. The drama-suspense film was given a Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Bela first participated in TIFF last 2016 for I America by Ivan Andrew Payawal, which competed in the Asian Future category.

THE actress played a female sniper who spends ever night drunk in a bar — until a phone call changes everything.

“The red carpet event last night was different than the first time. I was nervous, but at the same time, super calm,” Bela recalled.

She added, “I didn’t know we were part of the main competition until our press con a few weeks ago, and that in itself is already a huge blessing for me. There are so many interesting films this year and I’m just happy to be here.”

Meanwhile, Soriano noted that this is also his second time in the filmfest as his film Kid Kulafu had its Japanese premiere under the festival’s CrossCut Asia Section last 2015.