The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
It is written in the stars.
And the story, generally, goes this way.
The reluctant star in award-winning director Jeffrey Jeturian has finally shone brighter.
True, Jeturian’s presence in the constellation of heavenly bodies alongside or in the midst of firmament on the ground (mixed metaphor, anyone?) of pulsating galaxy of filmmakers has been felt but it is only now that his vibe is more sensed.
Twelve long years were the absence of Jeturian from the movie scene.
He was all along on television, a media enterprise entirely different from cinema.
And then…
When it was announced mid last year that Jeffrey would take the helm of Quantum Films and Cineko Productions’ “Unmarry,” by and large, a foray into an annulment if not a divorce issue in a predominantly Catholic country such as ours, many in the local entertainment industry rejoiced.
When the project was eventually headlined by the comebacking Angelica Panganiban and her perennial big and small screen patner Zanjoe Marudo, the more the public went gaga.
Then the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival Selection Committee chose it as one of the final four entries in the Magic 8 lineup, the critical adulation and box-office prospects were getting higher.
And the results during the stint of the 51st MMFF and its awards night were favorably palpable.
Jeturian bagged the Best Director plum during its Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night).
Tom Rodriguez, one of the main cast members, took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy.
Co-writers Chris Martinez and Theresa Cabaya brought home the Best Screenplay award.
The tech category Best Editing and the ingenious Best Float during the Parade of Stars of all participants were won as well.
And it is still picking apples at the tills, making it one of the Top Three earners at the current and nearly closed MMFF box-office.
Quantum lady boss, Joji Alonso, is now laughing her way to the bank.
What more can one ask for?
On its early days of screening, big named movie, TV, stage and multimedia stars came to see the film not excluding one of the topmost stars of this generation, Kathryn Bernardo making them predict that a film project with Jeturian is in the offing.
Kathryn and Jeffrey might have already worked on TV specifically in the hit ABS-CBN show “Be Careful With My Heart,” but a giant screen team-up is such a wonderful and challenging venture.
It will possibly be a welcome treat in 2026.