Venice felt like Disneyland for Janine Gutierrez.

For any movie star, walking along the iconic boulevard is a dream come true, and Janine lived that dream from August 28 to September 4, when she attended the Venice Film Festival as part of the cast of Lav Diaz’s Phantosmia. The film, screened out of competition during the festival’s 77th edition, marked a major milestone for the 34-year-old actress, who was visibly elated as she recounted her first time in Venice.

“Oh my gosh! Para po siyang Disneyland sa pakiramdam ko, kasi, ’di ba, susunduin ka ng water taxi. Paglapag sa airport may welcome booth sa aattend sa festival. Dun pa lang kinikilig na ako,” she shared, her eyes sparkling.

Janine couldn’t contain her excitement: “Kilig na kilig ako kasi nakikita ko lang ito sa pictures, never pa naman talaga ako nakapunta sa Venice, tapos may kasabay akong dalawa ring delegates ng film festival, yung isa director from Ukraine, tapos yung isa VR expert from France. Parang magkakaedad kami so nakakatuwa.”

She added, “‘Pag pasok mo dun sa mga canal, sabi ko ito pala ‘yung ginagaya ng Disneyland, ‘yun ‘yung pakiramdam. Tapos super naka-smile lang ako, tumatawa akong mag-isa. Tapos yung mga kasama ko parang natatawa sa akin. Sobrang magical nung Venice pala.”

As the granddaughter of Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Pilita Corrales, and Eddie Gutierrez, and the daughter of Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher, it almost seemed destined for Janine to follow in their footsteps. However, it’s her passion for acting, not the fame, that drives her.

“Actually hanggang ngayon may mga comment pa rin ako na nakukuha na syempre kinikilig ako na parang, bakit hindi ka sumali ng beauty pageant… kasi ito talaga ‘yung pangarap ko makapag-prestigious na film festival. It’s what I’ve always wanted,” she said.

In Venice, she even met a Filipino with a picture of her grandmother, Nora Aunor, attending the festival. “Hindi ko alam nag-Venice si Mama Guy.”

She added, “Dream ko talaga siya. Ang ganda ng feeling na ‘yung audience ng ibang bansa, nanonood ng mga pelikula natin.”

In Phantosmia, Janine portrays the unfortunate daughter of Hazel Orencio’s character, a mother who offers her up to men in their town. For Janine, working with Lav Diaz was a unique and refreshing experience, one that she had long aspired to.

“Sobrang chill. ‘Yung crew niya twelve people lang, so coming from like a big teleserye, nakakapanibago. Sobrang tahimik, tapos parang pamilya lang [sa location]. Parang dalawang service lang, so magkakasama kayo mag-lunch or pag-dinner bababa kayo together. Isang camera lang. Ang layo nung nag-shoot na kami for Lavender Fields.”

Sharing the red carpet with Julianne Moore and just being in the same venue as Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt was a surreal experience for Janine. But more than the glitz and glamour, representing the Philippines, much like director Lav Diaz has done for years on the international stage, was what truly mattered to her.

“Proud to be Filipina — ‘yun pakiramdam ko talaga dun,” she said.