Award-winning actress Alessandra de Rossi is following in the footsteps of multi-hyphenates like Coco Martin as she takes on triple duties—actress, director, and producer—in her latest project, Everyone Knows Every Juan. The dark comedy-drama, co-produced with Viva Films under Boss Vic del Rosario, opens in cinemas nationwide on October 22, 2025.
The film revolves around the Sevilla siblings, who reunite at their ancestral home on the first death anniversary of their mother, Juaning Sevilla (Liza Lorena). What starts as a family gathering soon spirals into chaos as secrets unravel and old wounds resurface.
Tupe (Edu Manzano) – the eldest at 67, a cosmetic surgeon with a Botox-refreshed face who arrives in a lavish camper van. Josie (Ruby Ruiz) – the second eldest, uneducated and struggling financially, who shows up in a tricycle she cannot even pay for. Rose (Gina Alajar) – a corporate executive who drives a red car and stirs controversy by having their mother’s remains exhumed for autopsy. Ramil (Ronnie Lazaro) – the drifter sibling who takes on odd jobs; this time arriving dirty and hungry from a construction site. Roel (Joel Torre) – once the family’s “rock star,” now drowning in alcohol and depression, clutching his guitar like a lifeline. Raquel (Alessandra de Rossi) – the youngest, a law graduate who never took the bar and stayed home to care for their mother, now living with her partner Alfred (JM de Guzman).
Supporting characters add fuel to the fire: Anna (Angeli Bayani), Juaning’s former caretaker and an escapee from a mental hospital. Jacob (Kelvin Miranda), the young gardener unexpectedly named as an heir to the family house. Alfred (JM de Guzman), Raquel’s live-in partner who insists Jacob deserves to defend himself. As the Sevilla house itself begins to crumble, so does the fragile relationship of its occupants.
Unlike most films, ‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ was shot in only two days, after an intensive period of rehearsals. The entire story unfolds almost like a stage play, with long, unbroken takes that demanded discipline from both cast and crew.
Veteran stars admitted they felt challenged by Alessandra’s unconventional approach.
“First time in my 40-plus years in the business, mas marami pang rehearsal kaysa actual shooting,” shared Edu Manzano.
Gina Alajar confessed she feared forgetting her lines: “Fear ko memory is not that sharp anymore. Sabi ko, ‘Paano kung magkamali, uulit tayo?’ Pero tama si Direk Alex, nagawa namin.”
Ruby Ruiz added, “Sobrang exciting sa akin yung concept. Inisip ko, ‘Kaya ba namin?’ Pero nagtiwala kami kay Direk.”
For Alessandra, the project is about maturity and courage: “Adulting kami, kasi senior yung mga stars ko. Kami yung adult version. One night lang kasi nangyari yung story. Diretso ang take, walang cut—parang theater play in a full-length movie,” she explained.
This is Alessandra’s second film as a director, after her 2021 debut ‘My Amanda’ opposite Piolo Pascual. Unlike that intimate two-hander, ‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ showcases an ensemble of powerhouse actors, each carrying their own baggage while navigating a collapsing family dynamic.
The actress-director described the process as both exhausting and rewarding.
“Feeling blessed ako kasi hindi ako nahirapan—ang gagaling ng mga artista ko. They gave everything,” Alessandra said.
With its mix of dark humor, raw drama, and cultural critique, the film paints a relatable portrait of Filipino families: loving yet divided, proud yet wounded, bound by blood but fractured by secrets.
As Alessandra puts it, “Every family has its share of stories, and every Juan has one worth telling.”
Catch ‘Everyone Knows Every Juan’ starting October 22 in cinemas nationwide. (with reports from Loyd Pino)
