MANILA, Philippines – Ramona Diaz’s documentary And So It Begins about Leni Robredo’s grassroots presidential campaign opened in cinemas on Wednesday, August 21. 

The film is only showing in select cinemas. Major cinema chains like SM Cinemas and Ayala Malls Cinemas did not schedule screenings for the film.

“You should ask them,” Diaz said when asked why the film is not showing in major cinemas. “We were supposed to be a national release.”

In addition to capturing moments from the 2022 elections, the film is also a companion film to Diaz’s 2020 A Thousand Cuts documenting Rappler and CEO Maria Ressa’s legal struggles with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“We have a PG-rating and we have demand – two things that would otherwise not make them hesitate to show the film,” Diaz said. “It would be great to get an answer from them.”

“Call the theaters that you want to show this film,” she encouraged audiences. “Tell everyone about this film.”

And So It Begins was shown at film festivals Sundance in January and Cinemalaya in August of 2024.

It is currently screening in Power Plant, Gateway, and a few independent cinemas in the country. – Rappler.com