Petersen Vargas’ latest feature “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” has released a trailer ahead of its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival this November.
The film follows a group of young street hustlers navigating Manila’s nocturnal underbelly as they embark on a journey to fulfill their friend’s dying wish. Vargas, known for his commercially successful Filipino features, shifts gears with this indie project that explores queer desires and found families.
Vargas’ previous credits include “2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten” (2016), “An Inconvenient Love” (2022), “A Very Good Girl” (2023), and “Un/Happy for You” (2024).
“Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” stars Jomari Angeles (“Ma’Rosa”), Tommy Alejandrino (“GomBurZa”), Gold Aceron (“Metamorphosis”), alongside newcomers Miguel Odron and Argel Saycon. The narrative traces the bonds formed between these characters against the backdrop of Manila’s nighttime streets and the open roads of the Philippines.
Vargas said: “What I want is to offer proof that there is a sliver of light that exists in the darkness of Manila nighttime. There are unusual friendships formed along these dangerous streets. There is solidarity in honoring someone’s death by finding their home no matter what. I want to offer another version of our reality by showing the kind of human connection I know exists and still persists.”
The film is an international co-production between the Philippines, Singapore, and Italy, bringing together Asian powerhouse producers Daluyong Studios (“Plan 75”), Origin8 (“Norte, the End of History”), Ten17p (“A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery”), Giraffe Pictures (“Wet Season”), Momo Films Co (“Don’t Cry, Butterfly”), and Volos Italia (“Viet and Nam”).
“Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” has been in development since 2018, gaining support from various international film labs and markets, including SEAFIC, Locarno Open Doors, and Cannes Cinefondation Atelier. The project has also received backing from the Singapore Film Commission and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Anthony Chen of Singapore’s Giraffe Pictures said: “This is a project that has suffered many hiccups and setbacks during the process. But its light continues to shine strong, a raw and gritty energy that only indie filmmaking can offer to the world, reminding us that even in the darkest of nights, we should keep on walking.”
The film is set to make its world premiere in competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, running Nov. 8-24. Parallax Films is handling international sales.
Watch the trailer here:
