The biopic ‘IDOL: The April Boy Regino Story’ may not have made it to the lineup of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), but producer Marynette Gamboa of Premiere Waterplus Productions remains positive.
The film, directed by Efren Reyes, Jr., will instead be released in theaters on November 27, ahead of the film festival season.
Producer Marynette Gamboa and director Efren Reyes, Jr. acknowledged the intense competition for MMFF slots, with this year’s roster featuring powerhouse entries led by stars such as Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, Vic Sotto, and Vice Ganda.
Reyes humorously addressed the situation at the movie’s special screening on October 29 at the DengCar Baltazar Theater in Quezon City, saying, “Matitindi ang mga kalaban, baka mapahamak lang kami.”
He joked about casting relative newcomers, “Sabi nila, wala raw mga pangalan ang artista ko. E sabi ko dapat nagdala kayo ng mga birth certificate ninyo, baptismal para ipakita sa kanilang may pangalan kami!”
@lionheartv Director Efren Reyes, Jr. sa hindi magkakasama ng kanilang pelikula na #IdolTheAprilBoyReginoStory #AprilBoyRegino sa #MMFF2025 #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH #BestOfTiktokPH #NewsPH #LionhearTV #RAWRNation
The film stars John Arcenas as April Boy Regino and Kate Yalung, with Arcenas undergoing a transformation to emulate Regino’s distinctive look and voice. The production also invested heavily in obtaining rights to Regino’s hit songs, with one track costing up to $20,000, underscoring the film’s dedication to authenticity.
Gamboa shared that her inspiration for the project came after discovering April Boy’s resilience during a show in General Santos City. Although battling blindness and serious health issues at the time, Regino continued to perform for his fans. April Boy later succumbed to prostate cancer and complications from diabetes and kidney disease, but his impact on the Filipino music industry endures.
While ‘IDOL’ may not be part of the official MMFF lineup, the producers are hopeful that audiences will flock to see the film, eager to remember and honor the man who captivated Filipino hearts with his music and resilience.
