Award-winning filmmaker Adolf Alix Jr. is making a return to the Boys’ Love (BL) genre through his upcoming film ‘The Blue Hour’, a character-driven drama starring Paolo Gumabao, Migs Almendras, Eian Rances, and James Lucero.
The project, produced by Hotbox Media Production Inc., was formally introduced during its recent story conference, where the cast and director shared details about the film.
‘The Blue Hour’ follows the story of a rising young actor and a professional basketball player who are forced to confront the future of their secret relationship over the course of one final day together.
According to the film’s synopsis, a 23-year-old actor and a 25-year-old basketball player must decide within 24 hours whether to end their romance as they navigate the ghosts of their past and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
The film takes its title from the “blue hour,” the brief period before sunrise when the sky is bathed in soft blue light—a metaphor for transition, reflection, and new beginnings.
Alix expressed confidence that Filipino audiences have become more receptive to LGBTQIA+ stories compared to the height of the pandemic, when BL productions surged in popularity.
He pointed out that recent international LGBTQIA+ films spanning various genres—from found-footage storytelling to horror—have found success among Filipino viewers, reflecting a broader acceptance of diverse narratives.
The director also addressed the recurring debate over whether openly LGBTQIA+ actors should exclusively portray queer characters.
For Alix, acting is about embodying characters beyond one’s personal identity.
He compared the argument to expecting only real-life criminals to portray thieves on screen, saying such a mindset undermines the very essence of the acting profession.
Actors, he emphasized, are trained to portray lives and experiences that differ from their own.
Meanwhile, Paolo Gumabao and Eian Rances appeared unfazed when asked whether playing queer roles might lead people to assume they are gay in real life.
Their relaxed response reflected what many in the industry now consider a more progressive attitude toward LGBTQIA+ representation.
For Paolo, ‘The Blue Hour’ continues his exploration of diverse and challenging roles. The actor has previously appeared in LGBTQIA+-themed projects, including an episode of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’, the series ‘Mga Batang Poz’, and the films ‘Lockdown’ and ‘Sisid’.
He shared that portraying different characters allows him to continuously grow as an actor while learning from directors and fellow performers.
Aside from ‘The Blue Hour’, Paolo recently appeared in ‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ and the stage production ‘Walong Libong Piso’, while also completing a horror film and a romantic comedy that are currently in post-production.
‘The Blue Hour’ is expected to arrive in Philippine cinemas soon.
