(L-R) Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Leanne Mamonong, Klea Pineda, and Janella Salvador at a screening of the Cinemalaya film "Open Endings," October 4, 2025 in Cubao, Quezon City. Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- As Leanne Mamonong officially adds "actor" to her resume, she is thanking her lucky stars that it happened through "Open Endings."
Mamonong, who is one half of the indie pop duo Leanne and Naara, makes her feature film debut on "Open Endings," an entry into the 2025 Cinemalaya film festival. The movie tells the story of four friends -- all queer women who have dated each other at various points in their lives, but are now ride-or-die best friends.
Aside from Mamonong, the movie also features Kapamilya actress Janella Salvador, Klea Pineda, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith. Four days into the festival, "Open Endings" has been receiving mostly positive reviews, with critics highlighting the chemistry among the lead actresses as one of the film's strengths.
The response -- from the critical praise to the sold-out screenings -- has been "overwhelming" for Mamonong.
READ: Stars of 'Open Endings' embrace responsibility, privilege of portraying queer women on screen
"It's really great seeing everyone have all these positive reactions to the movie. Yeah, I don't know what else to say. I'm just really super grateful to be part of it, and to meet all of these people who can relate so much to the story that we tried to show in the film," she told ABS-CBN News on Monday, after the film's gala night at Shangri-La Plaza.
In "Open Endings," Mamonong plays Amihan Villanueva, fondly called "Mihan" by her best friends. A writer and a dog lover, Mihan's choices -- or lack thereof -- leads to the film's emotional climax.
"I'm surprised when people say, I'm rooting for [Mihan], I'm Team Mihan," said Mamonong. "That's rare. But like, yeah, you get it. The complexity of Mihan is definitely something that probably not a lot of people will get."
"But those who get it probably have experienced it, so I'm so glad that they can see themselves on the screen.
All four of the lead actresses have spoken in glowing terms about their shooting experience, as well as the leadership of writer Keavy Vicente and director Nigel Santos. In a previous interview, Salvador had praised the care that the production took to ensure that their set would feel like a "safe space."
READ: Janella Salvador gets role of her dreams in 'Open Endings'
It's a sentiment shared by Mamonong, who acknowledges that "Open Endings" sets a high bar for their future projects.
"This is really an experience of a lifetime, and I'm so looking forward to whatever is to come," she said. "But I must say that I am very, very glad that this is the first film that I was in. Just the fact that it's a very well-written film, and the fact that it's portraying realistically what queer women experience everyday."
INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL RELEASE?
Similarly overwhelmed by the reception to their movie is Santos, the director of "Open Endings."
"Sobrang hindi namin in-expect lahat ng nice words na natatanggap namin for Open Endings. Pero of course, sobrang thankful kami. Naa-appreciate namin lahat, lahat ng nanood at lahat nang nag-uulit manood at nagre-request ng international release, ganiyan, or provincial release," she told ABS-CBN News.
Santos said they, too, are manifesting a wider release for their movie, though at the moment they are unsure of what will happen once the Cinemalaya film festival concludes.
What is certain for Santos is the hope that "Open Endings" will spark more conversations about queer rights in the country and inspire more works that shine a spotlight on sapphics and queer women.
"Sana, ma-normalize 'yung ganitong kwento, lalo sa mainstream, film -- and series. Sana next, series. Tingnan natin, 'di ba? Pero malaking step na ngayon, meron ulit tayong sapphic queer film sa Pilipinas," she said.