There’s something about old cities that hold stories in their cracks and thats what At Least We Had This Moment starring Raven Rigor and Andre Miguel taps into. The official trailer for the BL short film just dropped, and it’s a soft, slow burn that captures a fleeting connection between two strangers wandering the sun-drenched streets of Escolta.
After making waves with its world premiere at the Queer East Film Festival in London, the film is set to premiere in Asia this June at the 25th Korean Queer Film Festival (KQFF), South Korea’s largest and most established LGBTQ+ film fest.
A Story That Slows Down Time in Escolta
Set in the historic streets of Escolta, Manila, At Least We Had This Moment follows Dino (Rigor), a film photographer chasing stories through architecture. Frustrated by touristy routes, he convinces his guide Vince (Miguel) to take a different turn — away from the usual, into the unfamiliar. The two end up discovering more than just forgotten alleys. They find pieces of themselves in the quiet and in the spaces left behind.
The film is directed by Joshua de Vera, an independent Filipino filmmaker and founder of SBSG Pictures. Known for his coming-of-age queer narratives, de Vera crafts stories that resonate with those trying to find or reclaim themselves.
Written by Sean Romero, the script blends human emotion with a lowkey melodramatic edge, tapping into universal themes of longing and intimacy. The film’s cinematography is handled by Wence Trajano, who frames Escolta like a memory — raw, warm, and unfiltered.
Production is led by Stephen Dela Peña, with executive producers Jon Galvez and Carlos Ortiz, whose vision helped shape the film’s balance of visual creativity and heartfelt storytelling.
Queer Storytelling, Made by Queer Creatives
Produced by SBSG Pictures, an all-queer production house based in Manila, At Least We Had This Moment is part of a larger mission to amplify queer voices in Philippine cinema. It’s a story told by the community, for the community — rooted in truth, tenderness, and representation.
With its UK debut behind it and an Asian premiere in South Korea up next, the film is already building buzz as a must-watch for those who appreciate meaningful queer storytelling, local culture, and the kind of film that speaks softly but hits deep.
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