Iza Calzado marks her return to GMA Pictures with Green Bones, the studio’s official entry to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
During a media conference on December 5, Calzado expressed her excitement and gratitude for the project, which she described as a meaningful film with an inspiring message for the holiday season.
Calzado revealed that she hadn’t initially realized Green Bones would be her comeback project with GMA Pictures until it was pointed out by GMA Pictures Executive Vice President Nessa Valdellon.
“Hindi ko siya na-realize because when I read the script, I read it like a script of any other. When I said yes to it, I said yes because it was a good script, regardless of who was producing it,” Calzado said.
Having been with GMA Network for a decade, Calzado shared her deep connection with the Kapuso family and her appreciation for executives like Annette Gozon-Valdes, GMA’s Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, and Support Group.
The project reunited Calzado with fellow Kapuso alumni Alessandra de Rossi, Dennis Trillo, and Wendell Ramos, all of whom she worked with in iconic GMA Network dramas such as ‘Kung Mawawala Ka’ (2002) and ‘Etheria’ (2005).
“It felt so familiar but also new. Parang it brought me back to my twenties,” she said. “Wow, we’ve been through so much and we’re still here. Thank you, Lord.”
Calzado also had the chance to work alongside younger Kapuso stars like Sofia Pablo, Pauline Mendoza, and Sienna Stevens. She expressed excitement about their talents and hoped for future collaborations.
‘Green Bones’ is Calzado’s 12th MMFF film, joining a lineup of celebrated performances in entries such as ‘Sigaw’ (2005), ‘Mulawin: The Movie’ (2005), ‘Die Beautiful’ (2016), and ‘Culion’ (2019).
For Calzado, participating in the MMFF remains a meaningful opportunity to connect with Filipino audiences during the festive season.
While fans speculated about a potential return to Kapuso teleseryes, Calzado clarified that her current focus is on raising her daughter, Deia Amihan, with husband Ben Wintle. Her last teleserye with GMA Network was ‘Beauty Queen’ in 2010.
‘Green Bones’, directed by Zig Dulay, is a co-production of GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs, and Brightburn Entertainment. Distributed by Columbia Pictures Philippines, the film opens in cinemas nationwide on December 25 as part of the MMFF 2024 lineup.
