Acclaimed filmmaker Nijel de Mesa returns with a new NDM Original, “Hearts in Transit,” a bold romantic drama set in Japan and positioned as his most emotionally devastating work yet.
The film was launched during the “Not for Everyone Gala,” the post-Valentine event of NDM PLUS at Art Son Gala Hall in Quezon City.
Set between Tokyo’s neon cityscape and rural Japan’s quiet beauty, the full-English international feature is slated to premiere exclusively on NDM PLUS in Q2 2026.
“It is a love story we think we know—until we don’t,” De Mesa said, describing the film as a heart-wrenching story about timing, identity, and the cost of loving while still finding oneself.
The narrative centers on three Americans in Japan: Ravi (Will Devaughn), a disciplined logistics officer quietly unraveling; Gale (Sheridan Mortlock), a sustainability research fellow seeking purpose; and Flynn (Nico Locco), a restless drifter chasing meaning.
The “messy” triangle, De Mesa notes, isn’t about choosing between lovers—but choosing who you’re brave enough to become.
Mortlock makes her screen acting debut, bringing authenticity to Gale through her real-life academic background in Global Sustainability and Politics. An advocate of circular fashion, she also works with sustainability initiatives such as SLOGUE. Trained in her youth at National Institute of Dramatic Art, her performance is already generating strong early buzz.
Devaughn, known to Philippine audiences from “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition 2,” delivers what insiders call a career-elevating turn, portraying duty versus desire.
Meanwhile, Locco brings intensity and unpredictability to Flynn, continuing his streak of complex roles.
Japan itself plays a vital role—its language, distance, and culture shaping the trio’s emotional isolation and connection.
A milestone international production for NDM Studios, “Hearts in Transit” signals NDM PLUS’ expansion into global storytelling—promising a visually striking, emotionally charged film audiences will be talking about in 2026.
