Zanjoe Marudo and Ogie Diaz promote How to Get Away from My Toxic Family. ARCHIVE

Veteran talent-manager-producer Ogie Diaz and actor Zanjoe Marudo have postponed this weekend’s UAE premieres of their new film How to Get Away from My Toxic Family as regional security concerns ripple through the entertainment and aviation sectors. “We regret to inform you that the international premiere night of How to Get Away from My Toxic Family scheduled for June 28 (Al Ghurair Mall, Dubai) and June 29 (Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi) is postponed due to the current situation in the Middle East. A new schedule is yet to be confirmed. Ticket refunds are available,” KreativDen Entertainment and Diaz said in a statement sent to Expat Media. The romantic-drama was set to screen at Star Cinema branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi at 6pm and 8pm, each followed by meet-and-greet sessions with Marudo and Diaz. Tickets were priced at Dh125 at cinema counters or Dh115 through organiser Maybush Productions. Refund instructions are being issued directly to purchasers. The postponement comes after 12 days of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel triggered widespread air-space closures and flight cancellations across the Gulf. Although a US-brokered ceasefire was announced on Tuesday (June 24), organisers said “lingering operational uncertainties” made it impossible to proceed safely with the red-carpet events.

A story that resonates with OFWs

Written by John Bedia and directed by Lawrence Fajardo, the film follows Arsenio (Marudo) as he grapples with the psychological burden of a toxic family—a theme that strikes a chord with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). “ can relate to it—even balikbayans. Even when they’re abroad, they still think of their families in the Philippines,” Marudo told reporters, adding that the film urges viewers to “set boundaries, even if family is involved.” Diaz emphasised the mental-health angle: “If you can’t take it anymore, it’s time to leave. … If it’s not helpful to your mental health, it’s time to let go to take care of ourselves.” The movie premiered in Los Angeles in May and is still slated for screenings in Western Australia (June 29), Japan (July 6), Houston, San Diego, and San Francisco before its Philippine “homecoming” on July 30. In the UAE, new premiere dates will be announced “once travel and security conditions stabilise,” Diaz said. How to Get Away from My Toxic Family features Susan Africa, Richard Quan, Kim Rodriguez, Lesley Lina, Keena Pineda, and Juharra Asayo, with Nonie Buencamino in a special appearance. Principal photography took place at Clark International Airport and on location in Tondo, Manila—Marudo’s first big-screen project after a two-year hiatus. ICA/Expat Media
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