Day jobs and dreams: Dubai OFWs chase indie film spotlight

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Some 70 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whose day jobs range from hairdressers and grocery store merchandisers to office clerks, teachers, DJs, and finance professionals, have pursued their dream of acting on camera with the help of an award-winning Filipino indie director who brought them together and produced films for competition.

No one gets paid, including the director, and the films explore alternative themes seldom found in the mainstream.

“Cinema has never been simply about entertainment,” said Francis L.J. Gacer, director and founder of Kikoman Films (KMF), an independent production outfit. “It is about bearing witness.” 

Francis, fondly called “Direk Kiko,” said he has been engaged in filmmaking for the past 10 years because “every Filipino has a story worth telling, and every voice deserves to be heard.” 

And so the KMF, a UAE-licensed “creative sanctuary” for migrant artists where every talent can “flourish,” hopes to discover more experiences that “could become stories…voices [that could be heard on] the screen.” 

The production house has been the go-to place of OFWs wishing to hone their acting talents.

“I wanted to continue growing as an actor and be part of a community of people who genuinely love filmmaking,” said Pamela Villadiego, who works in the marketing department of a company while freelancing as a DJ.

“Acting has been part of my life since I was young, and being in Dubai didn’t make me want to stop. Instead, I wanted to find a way to continue telling stories and challenging myself as an artist.”

Pamela has won Best Actor in the American Golden Picture International Film Festival (AGPIFF), Southeast Asia International Film Festival (SEAIFF), and the Sweden International Film Festival (SIFF) for her role as a human trafficking victim in the 45-minute, true-to-life short film Alimbukay (Nausea). The film also won Best Psychological Film in the recent Emirates Film Festival (EFF).

“I have upcoming films this year, Sa Manlulupig and When Life Gives You Lemons, which we will shoot this month. Aside from acting, I’ve also been involved behind the scenes, particularly in production as camera woman,” said Pamela.

Gudelia “Lia” Rodriguez said she was just a curious bystander when she found herself playing a role.

“Acting has always been one of the things on my bucket list and I really thought it was a long shot, but here I am. Never did I imagine that a dream, at my age, may come true,” she said.

“I joined because it gives ordinary people a chance to shine, explore their creativity and discover talents they may not even know they have,” added Lia, who has been working in finance for the past 24 years. 

Lia played a role in the award-winning horror film Batingaw, where she played the lead character’s sidekick. She also appeared as an extra in Alimbukay and in 100 Uploads.   

“There are two lined-up films where I am part of this 2026 for scheduled shooting as well,” Pamela shared

Another artist, Trixie Mae Tautuan, works as an administrative assistant at a trading company. She has starred in three short films — Alimbukay, Sa Paghupa ng Unos, and Salamism — and remains busy shooting other projects this year. 

“At first, it was not in the plan. A friend just had me tag along to an acting workshop. I tried it out of curiosity, and, at the same time, for experience since I’m fond of movies. I thought there was nothing to lose anyway,” Trixie said.

Also looking for something new to do on her weekends, hairdresser and makeup artist Jessica Leano Miranda replied to a KMF social media casting call.

“As I am an artist doing hair and makeup, I worked in an Arabic TV Channel here in Dubai years ago and I love watching movies, I got so interested to try it,” she said.

Jessica so far has two films under her belt: Tahan Tahanan, her first supporting role where she played a grandmother left to take care of a physically-challenged grandchild; and Batingaw, where she won an EFF acting award.

Amor Nano Matildo, a finance and logistics assistant at a manufacturing company for 16 years, said acting is one of her “passions in life” and a dream she hopes to conquer. 

“I joined Kikoman Films because the films I’ve seen have meaning and sense, and also lessons,” she said.

Amor has played roles in four films last year: Bidyo-Oke, Remember Mercy, Paghupa ng Unos, and Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy. She’s busy shooting two films this year: Ang Dalisay and Reasong Razon. 

Ron Jordan de Ocampo, a supermarket shelf stocker by day, has likewise become a regular actor for KMF, playing roles in 12 films.

“Each project has given me valuable experience and helped me grow as an actor,” he said.

Becoming an actor was “already a dream” for De Ocampo, who has always loved watching movies, especially indie films, even when he was still in the Philippines.

One of the most intense films De Ocampo has appeared in is Tilamsik sa Dakilang Apoy, where he starred as a former New People’s Army (NPA) combatant who, having been afflicted with a medical condition in the hills, returned home to his wife and daughter. 

In playing the role, De Ocampo won Best Actor at the Global India International Film Festival (GIIFF) and Most Promising Actor at EFF. 

He also won Best Actor in two other films, Apo and Malakaya, at the World Film Carnival Singapore (WFCS) and the Gully International Film Festival (GIFF).

What started as a dream became a passion for De Ocampo, who met his wife at KMF.

“And now we have our baby girl, Baby Melon, who has also become part of some of our film experiences,” De Ocampo shared.

The actors said time management plays an important part in their task, as they memorize and practice the scripts after work on weekdays and shoot the film on weekends.

Since KMF’s inception in 2016, more than 25 film productions have reaped awards and recognition in various festivals in France, USA, Russia, Singapore, India, Turkey, Czech Republic, Spain, Philippines, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, and UAE, among others.

Direk Kiko, who usually comes up with ideas for the scripts, said 12 films are being lined up for 2027. He also supervises the acting workshops.

The director noted that plans are also underway to open KMF to non-Filipino talent, building on the six foreign members already among its 76-strong roster.

“Whenever I drive, I record my voice and speak of an idea for a story. Also, most of the time, I keep a small notebook and a pen in my bag,” said Direk Kiko, who also works as a producer and designer at a big retail firm. His superiors at the company support him, he shared, even attending last month’s KMF Gala Night.

“I still remember writing a script on the plane on my way back to Dubai from Saudi Arabia and the film eventually won awards in Kalayaan Independence Day celebration.” He also listens to nationalistic and progressive songs, the director said, “and from there, ideas flood me.” – Rappler.com