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MANILA -- Veteran actor John Arcilla is hopeful about the future of Filipino movies, judging from the growing interest in local independent films.

"Meron na talagang following ang indie movies. I mean when we had opened one time in CCP, I'm telling you, 'yung dami ng audience at reception sa amin, ibang-iba,” Arcilla said in a press conference of his new movie "Birdshot," which was the opening film of the recently concluded Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

“Honestly hindi ko talaga ine-expect and most of them are millennials kaya masaya ako kasi talagang hindi namamatay ang pelikulang Pilipino,” he added.

"Birdshot" will be shown in local theaters as part of the first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which runs from August 16-22. But even before its local run, it already earned raves abroad and was named Best Asian Future Film at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival.

"I'm really proud of this film kasi na-appreciate siya sa ibang bansa na hindi naman nakaka-intindi ng Tagalog. Kaya I'm sure tayong mga Pilipino, ma-appreciate din natin ito. Kaya subukan natin at suriin natin at doon natin sabihin na hindi siya naiintindihan,” Arcilla said.

Arcilla is best known for his 2015 independent movie "Heneral Luna," a surprise box office hit which earned more than P250 million during its lengthy run in theaters.

Arcilla stressed that his role in "Birdshot" is very different. “Ang kaibahan nito hindi siya anti-hero na siya 'yung lead tapos siya pa 'yung matapang. Dito naman, siya 'yung symbol ng corruption. Actually hindi siya mas aggressive kagaya ni Heneral Luna.”