Fusee Films entered the documentary realm in a big way at the Cannes Film Market, announcing co-production efforts on three non-fiction projects spanning Vietnam, the Philippines, Canada, Belgium and France.
Leading the way is “The Last Note,” which has already secured international distribution through Quebec-based HG Distribution ahead of its release.
The Canadian film, directed by Patrick de Belen, follows a Filipino-Canadian poet as he writes about the life of his late brother through diary entries, songs, and fragments of memories. The film confronts grief, mental illness, and the silence surrounding these subjects in the Philippine diaspora community. The film is produced by Still Here Productions and Fusee.
“The themes of this film are often difficult to talk about, and it saddens me to have to feel alone because of that discomfort. This story encourages us to witness the rawness of both the beauty and the devastation, but also reminds us that the only way to get through it is together,” de Belen said.
“‘The Last Note’ is a powerful and intimate film that transforms personal grief into a lucid act of testimony. Poetic reframing and unflinching honesty about borderline personality disorder, immigration, and precarity combine to make the story poignant and urgent. As a Filipino-Canadian documentary that speaks to the diaspora experience and colonial legacy, it will resonate strongly with multicultural audiences and festival programmers alike,” added Henry Gagnon. HG distribution.
The second project, “Land of Evanescent,” was featured in the Docs-in-Progress Showcase in Cannes presented by Docs by The Sea. Directed by Vietnamese filmmaker Nguyen Thi Xuan Tran, this 60-minute film traces the multigenerational weight of the Vietnam War through archival materials, poetic reconstructions, and encounters with former propaganda workers and American veterans. The Vietnam-Philippines-French co-production will be produced by Wilfredo Manalan and Charlotte Lelong through Lagi, Fusey and Trans Films, and is targeted for release in 2027.
“This is a great opportunity to introduce this film for the first time. After three years of development, I really need your feedback to understand my story more clearly and to connect with the right people to complete this film,” Nguyen said.
“Cannes Document is a great opportunity to introduce the first images of our project to the world stage and find the right partner to complete the film. Bridging Europe and Asia is part of Trans Film’s identity. We are excited to be working with Vietnam for the first time, which shares a long history with France. This project is a great opportunity to put our principles of creative equity and inclusive partnership into practice,” added Trans Film producer Charlotte Lelong.
To conclude, Forgive Me Father for I Have Sinned is in development as a Belgian-Philippine co-production between while we’re here and Fusee. The film is directed by Jeremy Luke Bolatag, a young Filipino filmmaker who recently emerged from the Belgian singing competition series “Voice van Vlaanderen.” The work is based on Boratag’s personal experiences navigating queer identity through the context of faith, family, and diaspora.
“Telling personal stories with universal impact is, in my opinion, the cornerstone of documentary filmmaking, and Jeremy’s story touched me deeply. His film is so important to be told at a time when public discourse is so deeply polarized,” said Frederic Nicolai, producer of While We Are Here.
The promotion of the three documentaries includes “Plan 75,” which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival, “Don’t Cry, Butterfly,” which won the Venice Critics Weekly Grand Prize, “Topac,” directed by Locarno, and the Berlinale short “Through.” It’s a significant departure for Fuse, who has built a reputation for fiction at prestigious film festivals, including “Your Eyes,” as well as the Netflix Asian hit “The Blue Room” and the Torino Screenplay Award winner “Somewhere in the Night.” The company was founded by Wilfredo C. Manalan.
“Documentary filmmaking is where Fusey’s soul lives. These three projects are more than just films. They are invitations to a global conversation that we believe the world is ready for and urgently needs,” Manaran said.
