Vice Ganda headed to Tokyo on February 25 for a milestone moment in his career as two of his blockbuster films — And The Breadwinner Is… and Call Me Mother — were chosen to be screened at the inaugural Philippines–Japan Film Festival 2026.
The It’s Showtime host-comedian personally traveled to Japan for the event, where Call Me Mother served as the festival’s opening film. Vice shared his appreciation for the recognition.
“I was surprised. I thought I only had one entry. It’s heartwarming to learn that I actually have two films in the festival,” he said in an interview with TV Patrol before departure.
Beyond the personal milestone, Vice emphasized the larger significance of bringing Filipino storytelling to an international audience.
“It’s a good opportunity for Filipino movies to be seen and appreciated by other nationalities. We hope to reach a wider global audience,” Vice said.
“They can learn a lot from our films. Through our culture, they may discover and understand more about the lives and experiences of Filipinos,” he added.
Both films were directed by Jun Robles Lana and were official entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival. And The Breadwinner Is… follows OFW breadwinner Bambi (Vice), who stages her own death in exchange for money to help her family through a financial crisis. In Call Me Mother, Vice portrays a queer mother whose bond with her adoptive son is tested when the child’s biological mother seeks custody.
The Philippines–Japan Film Festival 2026 is being launched as part of the 2026 Philippines–Japan Friendship Year, celebrating cultural exchange and strengthening ties between the two nations — with Vice Ganda now among the Filipino artists bringing local stories to the global stage.
