Paul Soriano’s first Hollywood film premieres in Cannes

LOS ANGELES – Paul Soriano’s first crack at producing a Hollywood movie, Andy Garcia’s “Diamond,” starring Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Brendan Fraser and Bill Murray, premiered Tuesday night at the 79th Cannes Film Festival.

Soriano, whose parents are both Filipino, marks a milestone with “Diamond” as the first Filipino co-lead producer of a major Hollywood film that debuted in the festival on the Croisette. Garcia, who wrote and directed the movie, is listed as a lead producer along with Soriano, Frank Mancuso Jr., and Jai Stefan.

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Variety reported that the film received “a warm seven-minute long standing ovation.”  

Early reviews of “Diamond” are good. Deadline’s Pete Hammond raved about “Diamond” as a “wonderfully atmospheric, nostalgic and entertaining contemporary noir.”

The film premiered in the festival’s main screening venue, Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere of the Palais des Festivals. Soriano walked on the iconic Cannes red carpet with Garcia and the cast. Sharon Stone was among the stars who graced the premiere.

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Soriano told Inquirer USA: “It is definitely one of the greatest cinematic moments of my life so far. I’m humbled by how God works and where He continues to lead me. I thank my wife, Tin (Toni Gonzaga), who has been by my side through it all, for all her prayers, love, and unwavering support. And to Seve and Polly (the couple’s children)  — I do all of this for them.”

“Diamond,” described as “contemporary noir with period sensibilities set in Los Angeles,” also stars Robert Patrick, Rosemarie DeWitt, Danny Huston, Vicky Krieps, Demian Bichir, and Yul Vasquez. It is one of only six films selected by Cannes in its out-of-competition category this year.

“Diamond” joins these other films by acclaimed international filmmakers – “The Electric Kiss” by Pierre Salvadori, which opened the festival; “Her Private Hell,” Nicolas Winding Refn; “L’Abandon,” Vincent Garenq; “L’objet du délit,” Agnès Jaoui; “La bataille de Gaulle: L’âge de fer,” Antonin Baudry; and “Karma,” Guillaume Canet.

Paul Soriano’s back-to back films in Cannes

“Having a film you’ve produced premiere at Cannes is a dream,” said Paul, himself a veteran director, in our interview in Beverly Hills before he left for Cannes. “There’s no better place to have a world premiere than the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. We were all extremely happy, and I’m especially excited for Andy.”

It’s a feat for Soriano to have had movies that he produced premiere at the most respected international film festival for two consecutive years. Last year, we witnessed the five-minute standing ovation for “Magellan,” directed by celebrated auteur Lav Diaz and produced by Soriano.

“Back-to-back films in Cannes as a producer is a great blessing,” Soriano shared. “I’m grateful for these world-class opportunities and remain humbled by these journeys so far. I feel encouraged to keep pushing forward and continue telling meaningful stories.

“Cannes is a filmmaker’s world. It’s not only the first time you get to see your film on the big screen with an international audience, but also a deeply inspiring experience. You meet filmmakers from all over the world and are exposed to so many incredible films.”

With over 30 films to his credit, Soriano has reaped his own accolades as a filmmaker, including Best Director and Best Screenplay for “Thelma” in the 2012 Film Academy of the Philippines Awards and Best Director for “Siargao” in the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

The soft-spoken writer-director-producer opted to wear a barong by designer Avel Bacudio instead of the usual black tux at the Cannes premiere of “Diamond.” He stressed, “Anytime I have the opportunity to represent the Philippines at world-class film festivals and Cannes at that, whenever possible, wearing a barong Tagalog is my way of showing the world how proud I am to be Filipino.”

Hollywood legend Andy Garcia

Asked how his collaboration with Garcia came about, Soriano narrated, “My business partner, Simon Heo, called me one random afternoon and asked if I wanted to read a script by Andy. Of course, I said yes – he’s considered a Hollywood legend.

“The moment I finished reading the script, I instantly fell in love with it. Soon after, Andy and I connected through email, where we exchanged notes and discussed the story in depth.

“A couple of weeks later, I flew to Los Angeles, and Simon arranged a round of golf with Andy at the famous Lakeside Golf Club near Universal Studios. We spent the day talking about his film, cinema, and life in general. We connected immediately.

“After that came more meetings, more dinners, and deeper conversations about the project. Eventually, I told him, ‘I want to produce your film. Let’s make it happen.’”

Learning from Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia on set of ‘Diamond | Photo from CineSon Entertainment

On what grabbed him about Garcia’s script, described in the film’s notes as about Joe Diamond, “a man with an emotional, traumatic past, who has the uncanny ability to solve crimes,” Soriano replied, “What really stood out to me was Andy’s passion for ‘Diamond’ and his deep understanding of the character. This was a story he had carried with him for over 15 years, and you could tell he was more than ready to finally bring it to life.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of film noir, murder mysteries, and that classic, nostalgic style of cinema. ‘Diamond’ has all of those elements and more. There was something incredibly original about it that immediately made me want to be part of the film and help bring it to the screen.

“On top of that, the opportunity to shadow Andy and learn from a true Hollywood legend made the experience even more special and something I simply couldn’t pass up.”

Paul Soriano’s first Hollywood film

The third-generation filmmaker – his father, Jeric Soriano, is a director of iconic commercials, and his grandfather, the late Nestor de Villa, was a popular actor – rattled off Andy’s performances that he admired.

“Andy was incredible as Vincent Mancini in ‘The Godfather Part III.’ I also loved him in ‘The Untouchables,’ ‘Black Rain,’ ‘Internal Affairs,’ and ‘When a Man Loves a Woman.’ Of course, he was unforgettable as Terry Benedict in the ‘Ocean’s’ films, and more recently, he’s been fantastic in the television series, ‘Landman.’”

On producing a Hollywood film for the first time, Soriano answered, “It was truly a dream come true to work alongside Hollywood legends – not just Andy, but also incredible talents like Ana Marie Quintana (script supervisor) and Academy Award-winning costume designer Deborah Scott, to name a few.

“Even after being in production for nearly 20 years, this was by far the greatest learning experience of my life. What stood out most to me was the level of time, care, and preparation that went into every stage of the filmmaking process. From the script stage to pre-production, production, and post-production, everything was approached with precision and technical detail.

“There was a real commitment to developing the film properly and taking the time to find the best creative solutions for the story. That level of discipline and dedication to the craft was inspiring to witness firsthand.”

Full-circle moment

It was a long, fulfilling process for the first-time Hollywood producer. “From the moment I received the script, we spent nearly another full year developing it and carefully preparing for production,” he recalled. “That time was invaluable in shaping the story, refining the characters, and making sure every detail was right before stepping onto set.

“We officially began shooting in August 2025 and wrapped production in November 2025. Post-production then continued through to March, where everything came together creatively and technically.

“Now, to see the film premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival feels incredibly surreal and rewarding. It’s a full-circle moment for everyone who believed in the project from the very beginning.”

He shared his on-set impression of Garcia, who was the director, writer, composer (with Emmy winner and 10-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval), and actor: “What inspired me most was seeing his passion for filmmaking even after so many decades in the industry. His love for storytelling is still incredibly strong, and that passion was contagious. It motivated and inspired me on a whole different level.

“He was also extremely professional throughout the entire process – always on time, prepared, and ready to work. His attention to detail was remarkable, both technically and creatively. From filmmaking to character development, he knew exactly what he wanted and had a very clear vision for the film.

“At the same time, he was never closed off to collaboration. He was always open to exploring new ideas, trying different approaches, and finding what worked best for the story. Watching someone with that level of experience remain curious and collaborative was an incredible experience to witness firsthand.”

Cast

“Diamond” is Garcia’s second narrative feature directing work, following “The Lost City” in 2005.

Soriano was also awed by the cast, who have collectively earned multiple Oscar and Golden Globe awards and nominations. “It truly was an all-star cast,” he agreed. “Getting the chance to work with Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser was an incredible experience – he was genuinely one of the nicest people you could meet.

“Then there were more Hollywood legends like Dustin Hoffman, who would always call me ‘young man.’ Bill Murray was exactly how you’d imagine him to be – effortlessly funny and full of personality, just like the characters he plays on screen.

“Vicky Krieps was absolutely amazing to work with, and both Danny Huston and Demián Bichir brought so much depth and talent to the film. Every actor involved brought something special to the project.

“Even now, it still feels surreal to think that I had the opportunity to produce a film with such a high-caliber cast. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something I’ll always be grateful for.”

Of “Diamond’s” below-the-line creative talent, the “young man,” boyish looking at 44, enthused, “Alongside the incredible cast, Andy also assembled an all-star production team filled with talented people who were deeply passionate about helping him bring his story to life. Everyone involved truly cared about the film, and that level of dedication could be felt throughout the entire production.

‘The greatest learning experience of my life’

“Without a doubt, it was the greatest learning experience of my life. Being surrounded by so many experienced filmmakers and artists not only taught me so much about the craft but also renewed my passion for filmmaking in a major way.

“The entire experience reminded me why I fell in love with cinema in the first place, and it has made me even more excited to get back behind the camera again very soon.”

About his relationship to Los Angeles, to which Garcia dedicates “Diamond” as a “love letter,” Soriano said, “I was born in Los Angeles, and it has always felt like home to me. I’ve long dreamed of working in Hollywood, and with ‘Diamond,’ I was able to realize that dream. My next goal is to direct a film set in Los Angeles. 

“Most of the film is shot in the cinematic heart of downtown Los Angeles, from the Bradbury Building to Cole’s French Dip, Angels Flight, and Grand Central Market. I grew up around these iconic landmarks, and now being able to use them as locations in a film I’m producing feels incredibly special, and I’m truly grateful and blessed.”

Soriano went to the Philippines for the first time as a young boy and lived there until he returned to the US to earn a BA degree in Communication at Santa Clara University.

Back in the Philippines, Soriano began his career in film in the late 2000s. Soriano’s credits in various capacities as a writer, director, or producer include “Transit,” “Kid Kulafu,” “Dukot,” and “Mañanita.”

As a producer of Filipino films, Soriano is noted for his collaborations with Lav Diaz, “Magellan,” “Phantosmia,” and “A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery.” “Lav is a uniquely original filmmaker with a strong voice and a clear vision,” Soriano remarked. “He isn’t afraid to take risks or to express what’s in his heart. That authenticity is his greatest strength, and it resonates strongly with international audiences.”

Soriano, married since 2015 to singer, actress, and vlogger Toni Gonzaga, with whom he has a son, 9, and a daughter, 2, hopes to produce more international films under TEN17P, which he founded, and Black Cap Pictures, where he is the CEO and president.

What’s next for Paul Soriano

“‘Diamond’ has opened doors worldwide for me and Black Cap Pictures/TEN17P,” he said. “I’ve already begun working with American and international filmmakers and reading new scripts. It has also motivated me to finish a script I’m currently developing, which I hope to direct next year. We’ve established an office in Los Angeles, and I plan to split my time between Manila and Los Angeles in the coming years.”

He also expressed his hopes for Philippine cinema and its pool of creatives. “Filipino filmmakers are extremely talented. We must continue finding ways to keep Philippine cinema alive by consistently creating and telling stories. If you stay passionate and dedicated to the craft of filmmaking, you never know where it can take you – and that’s what continues to motivate me.”

Ruben V. Nepales is an LA-based journalist whose honors include nine first prizes from the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and the Los Angeles Press Club’s Southern California Journalism Awards. He authored “Through a Writer’s Lens,” which won first prize in nonfiction at the 2020-2021 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. In 2004, he became the first Filipino voter of the Golden Globe Awards, He is a member of the Golden Globe Foundation, one of Hollywood’s biggest philanthropic organizations.

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