Photo Release

Photo (L-R): Festival Director Sophia Wong Boccio, Ms. Angel Aquino,

Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano and Ms. Lou Ella Rose Cabalona

Consul General Melanie Rita B. Diano attended the Asian Pop-Up Cinema Festival (APUC) screening of its Centerpiece Film, “April,” on 02 April 2026 at the AMC NewCity 14 Cinema in Chicago. The film stars acclaimed Filipino actress Angel Aquino. During the event, Consul General Diano presented the APUC Pinnacle Career Achievement Award to Ms. Aquino in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Asian cinema and her distinguished body of work.

The program was hosted by Ms. Lou Ella Rose Cabalona, a member of the Board of Directors of Asian Pop-Up Cinema, who also moderated the post-screening question-and-answer session. Ms. Aquino engaged warmly with the audience, sharing insights into her role and offering behind-the-scenes perspectives on the making of “April.”

The film tells the story of April, a Filipino migrant worker navigating a deeply personal crisis as her mother falls critically ill back home. Faced with limited options, she must bring along the ailing Taiwanese elderly man under her care in order to return to the Philippines. When the old man’s son comes back from prison to an empty home, his journey unexpectedly intersects with April’s, weaving a poignant narrative of duty, sacrifice, and human connection.