Actress and screenwriter Bela Padilla has another role she can add to her growing list of achievements: film director.
On February 14, Padilla dropped the first official trailer for her upcoming film 366, which marks her directorial debut. She is also set to star alongside Zanjoe Marudo and JC Santos.
In the official trailer of 366, the audience is given a glimpse of June’s (played by Padilla) journey of moving on from heartbreak and learning to love again. Upon mourning the death of her boyfriend Pao (played by Santos), she meets Marco (played by Marudo) and helps her move on for 365 days.
In January 2021, the multi-talented celebrity announced on Instagram that she would be sitting in a director chair for 366, clarifying that she’s not getting married. Padilla wrote, “To the people commenting that I’m getting married, I’m sorry but no… I’m marking the start of a new chapter in my life as I direct my first film ever.”
She continued, “I honestly hoped that by this time…2021…a whole year after the pandemic… we finally understand that there are other things in life where we can level up. Not just our relationships.”
Padilla also shared on Instagram that they wrapped the production in February 2021. She then went on to thank the people behind the film, including the two lead actors Marudo and Santos. She stated, “You two [Marudo and Santos] have always been my favorite actors to have worked with, and saying yes to doing this project made me want to do th9s better, even more.”
In the past, Padilla has worked with the two actors in different projects. She partnered up with Marudo back in 2017 where they starred in the television drama series My Dear Heart. Meanwhile, Padilla and Santos had collaborated in three films before, namely 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, The Day After Valentines, and On Vodka, Beer and Regrets.
Padilla has previously written several screenplays, such as the 2016 hit movie Camp Sawi and the 2017 film Last Night. She also created and co-wrote a romantic film in 2019 called Apple of My Eye, where she also served as one of the film’s producers.
Padilla’s 366 is set to hit VivaMax on April 22, 2022.
Other POP! stories you might like:
On this day after Valentine’s, here’s 14 realizations from the film ‘The Day After Valentine’s’
Nadine Lustre to make a comeback with new movie ‘Greed’
Filipino films make history at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival