Magkakaroon din ng theatrical screening sa Canada ang pelikulang Maple Leaf Dreams starring Kira Balinger and LA Santos.
Majority nga kasi ng eksena rito ay sa Canada kinunan.
Pero mauuna muna itong ipalabas sa Sinag Maynila Film Festival na mag-uumpisa sa Sept. 4-8 in select local cinemas bilang isa sa official entries.
Bukod dito magkakaroon din ang Maple Leaf Dreams ng nationwide release beginning Sept. 25.
The project is produced by 7K Entertainment and Direk Benedict Mique’s Lonewolf Films and ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, and distributed by Quantum Films.
Si Direk Mique and director ng pelikulang ito na naglalarawan ng kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng pagmamahal ng mga Pilipino sa kani-kanilang pamilya.
Playing the lead stars are today’s most promising love team of multi-awarded actor-singer LA Santos and screen sweetheart Kira Balinger.
Sa kuwento, gagampanan nila ang character nina Macky and Molly, a boyfriend and girlfriend who try their luck in Canada to seek a better life for their respective families.
The couple’s journey is filled with challenges and fears that test their love and willingness to pursue their dreams.
Eighty percent of the film was shot on location in Toronto, Canada.
Kasama rin sa cast sina Joey Marquez and Snooky Serna who play Molly’s parents, and Ricky Davao who portrays Macky’s father.
In very special roles naman sina Malou Crisologo, Jong Cuenco, Jeff Gaitan, Hannah Thalia Vito, Luke Alford, Kanishia Santos, Benito Mique, Wilson Martinito and Canada-based beauty queen Bea Rose Santiago.
“Kung noon, sa US at Europe nagpupunta ang mga Pilipino para humanap ng mas magandang buhay, ngayon Canada na ang destination,” pahayag ni Direk Benedict na aniya ay nag-motivate sa kanyang gawin ang Maple Leaf Dreams dahil nga sa pagdagsa ng mga Pinoy sa nasabing bansa.
Habang marami pang lokal na pelikulang naggalugad sa kwento ng Pilipino sa ibang bansa, ayon kay LA ay napapanahon at tunay na pag-unawa sa karanasan ng OFW.
“Ipapakita namin sa pelikula kung ano ang talagang pinagdaraanan ng OFWs sa Canada, at saka kung gaano kahirap magpunta sa isang lugar na hindi ka pamilyar.”
Ilang buwang naglagi si Direk sa Canada to research and to talk to several Filipinos living and working there. Some of these Pinoys were cast in the film.
Kira adds, “When you say OFW, you immediately think of the successful family member who is in another country. What we will be showing is how they got to be successful, all of their struggles to make their dreams come true.”
Filming in Canada was certainly a learning experience on and off screen for the entire team. “Natutunan ko sa character ko na hindi madali ang buhay pero ang mga taong makakasama natin at ang mga taong mamahalin natin, sila rin ang hahatak sa atin paitaas,” dagdag naman ni LA na tatlong beses nanalo ng best supporting actor para sa pelikulang In His Mother’s Eyes.