Yuki Sonoda’s Film ‘All About Her’ Heads to Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2026

Hi, this is YUKI 😊

I’m really sorry it’s been such a long time since I last updated my column 🙏💦
I just haven’t been able to find the time, and I haven’t been able to write for a while…

But today, I finally have some happy news to share with all of you who always support me!

A movie I filmed in the Philippines is going to be shown at a film festival.

The film I appear in, All About Her, has been selected for screening at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival 2026 in the Philippines 🎉🎬

Honestly, when I first heard the news, I could hardly believe it.
I kept asking, “Really?” over and over again 😭✨

The screening period will be from March 23 to 29.
It’s scheduled to be shown at cinemas such as Gateway, Eastwood Cinemas, Uptown Cinemas, Venice Cineplex, and Lucky Chinatown Cinemas.

Films shown at festivals often can only be watched in theaters during that limited period, so I’m honestly feeling a little nervous too 💓
If any of you are in Manila, I’d be so happy if you could go watch it 😊

What Kind of Move is All About Her? 🎞️  

This film is set in the world of beauty queens competing in pageants.

In the Philippines, pageant culture is deeply rooted, and beauty queens are seen as more than just symbols of beauty. They also represent women with dreams, ambition, and pride 👑

In the movie, the story follows pageant finalists.
It may look like a glamorous world on the surface, but behind it, different emotions are constantly crossing paths, like:

• jealousy

• ambition

• friendship

It’s a story that shows how the relationships between women chasing the same dream begin to change.

And actually, the story starts moving because of a certain incident, so it also has elements of mystery and suspense.
The opening is a little shocking, and from there, it really pulls you into the story all at once 😳

When I first read the script, I still remember being surprised and thinking, “Wait… this is what happens?”
I think viewers will also find themselves watching with that same feeling of “What’s going to happen next?” 🎞️

A Film by Acclaimed Philippine Director Joel Lamangan

The director of this film is Joel Lamangan, who is very well known in the Philippines.
He has won many awards in the Philippine film industry and is known for works that explore social themes and human drama.

He is often described as one of the directors who represents Philippine cinema, so being able to appear in one of his films was truly a huge experience for me ✨

The Role I Play 🎭

I play a pageant contestant named Isabella Fuentes.

She is a woman who is very determined to win, and she is an incredibly strong-willed character.
While playing her, there were parts of her that I could relate to, and also parts that made me think, “This is different from who I am.”

On the surface, Isabella looks completely confident, but underneath that, she has her own struggles and emotions.

It was the kind of role that I built together with the director and cast, talking through how to express those deeper layers.

During filming, I became very close with the rest of the cast, and off camera we were all very warm and friendly with each other. But the moment the camera started rolling, the atmosphere would suddenly become full of tension 📹
That switch was really exciting and inspiring.

The pageant world looks glamorous from the outside, but inside it, there is also pressure, inner conflict, and complicated relationships with rivals.
I’d be really happy if people could feel that atmosphere through the film as well.

About the Sinag Maynila Film Festival 🎥

The Sinag Maynila Film Festival is known as a place where unique and fresh films come together in the Philippine film industry.

It’s also a space where you can find Philippine films that are a little different from commercial movies—works with a strong artistic voice, as well as films that deal with social themes.

There’s just something completely different about watching a festival film in a theater.

So many people are watching the same film, in the same space, at the same moment.
That sense of togetherness and the atmosphere in the room are also part of what makes movies so special.

These days, more and more people watch films through streaming, but I really feel that the experience of watching a movie in a cinema is still something special 🍿

As a Japanese Actress Working in the Philippines 🌸

I’ve mentioned this a little in past columns, but I was born in Manila and moved to Japan when I was 10 years old.

Now, navigating life in Japanese, English, and Tagalog, I’m working as an actress in the Philippines.
As a Japanese actress working here, I truly feel grateful to be involved in film projects like this.

Filming in the Philippines often feels very different from filming in Japan, and every time I learn something new 📚

Sets in Japan tend to be very quiet, with everything carefully planned in detail.
In the Philippines, things feel a little more free, and there’s more of a sense of creating things through the energy of the moment.

I think both have their own wonderful qualities.
I’m just very thankful that, through these experiences, I’m slowly getting the chance to be part of more and more projects.

If You’re in Manila, Please Come Watch 🙏

All About Her will be screened from March 23 to 29 during the Sinag Maynila Film Festival.

If the timing works out for you, I’d be so happy if you could watch it in the theater 🙌
Watching a film surrounded by a huge screen and powerful sound really is a special experience 🎬

I’m already feeling nervous and excited, wondering how everyone will react when they see it 😂
As the screening gets closer, I’ll be sharing updates on social media too 📱

See you again in my next column 😊

You can also check out my social media below, where I share my activities and everyday life, so please take a look!

Thank you💕
YUKI

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