By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 07/27/2026
Dreamboi is a Filipino psychological drama written and directed by Rodina Singh. The film stars EJ Jallorina, Jenn Rosa, and Tony Labrusca. It screened last night as the closing film of OutFestNext, and it was phenomenal.
The story centers around a trans woman, played by EJ Jallorina, and her day-to-day struggles in the Philippines. She lives in Quezon City, where trans people, referred to in the film as “ladyboys,” are more common than in some other parts of the country. Despite residing in a relatively progressive area, she faces numerous challenges in her daily life. For instance, at work, she is not allowed to use the women’s restroom. In the beginning of the film, she is seen in a meeting with HR, dealing with an issue involving a neighboring office and an uptight attorney who refuses to share the bathroom with her. At the request of the neighboring office, a security guard is stationed in front of the women’s restroom. When she approaches, he does not treat her with respect and refers to her as “Sir.” The day takes a turn for the worse when she urinates on herself while waiting. Fortunately, a custodian informs her about a bathroom in the basement where she won’t be disturbed.
After work, she spends time at a trans woman’s home, where they discuss hormone replacement therapy, with an awareness that accessing it can be illegal in other states and countries, leading to a kind of black market. While she identifies as a woman, she hasn’t had any sexual encounters, much to her friend’s amusement. However, she is obsessed with a DJ and pornographic creator named “Dream Boi,” played by Tony Labrusca, who is indeed a dream man. She fantasizes about him, listens to his recordings, and watches his clips.
In a pivotal scene, she finally decides to use the basement bathroom and unexpectedly encounters her dream boi in the stall next to her. Overwhelmed, she flees the situation. There are some confusing elements in the film; for instance, after she is attacked in a cab, she later finds her dream boi in the restroom, takes him home, and becomes intimate with him. The question remains: Did the attack lead her to let go of her inhibitions, almost as if she passed on and then began living in a fantasy world where everything was perfect?
The film raises many important questions and reminds us that the fight for equality for trans women is far from over. I loved the film and consider it one of the best LGBTQ+ movies I’ve seen in the last ten years. The cinematography is chaotic, beautiful, and unique, with the fantasy sequences featuring Dream Boi being both surreal, nostalgic and hot.
