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Filipino animated film Ang Lihim ni Lea, which bagged multiple awards from various prestigious international film festivals, continues to gain recognition worldwide. More and more film festivals from different parts of the world have expressed their interest in showing and featuring the movie in their respective events.

Ang Lihim ni Lea has won a total of nine international awards, including Best Original Story and Grand Jury Award for Animation at the New York International Film Awards 2020; Best Animated Short at the American Golden Picture International Film Festival 2020; Best Original Story and Best Main Theme at the Oniros Film Festivals New York 2020; Best Children Short at the Independent Shorts Awards and the Indi Short Fest; Best Creative at the Europe Film Festival; and Best Director at the Top Shorts Film Festival 2020.

The movie likewise represented the country at several festivals including the Cannes International Independent Film Festival, Madrid Indie Film Festival, Paris Lift-Off Festival, Rome Independent Prisma Awards, and the ARFF Barcelona International Awards.

The short film is an adaptation of the 2007 children's book written by GMA Network writer and Gawad Pambansang Alagad for Children's Literature awardee Augie Rivera. It is produced and directed by Rico Gutierrez.

“Naiisip ko lang 'yung tema tsaka napakatapang niya para pag-usapan. I think 'yun yata ang nakikita ng ibang festivals. So, hanggang ngayon nakaka-receive pa rin kami ng mga invitations to join their festival, I think based on the story itself,” Rico shared in an interview with 24 Oras.

Augie also said that the film's story became more relevant today because families are locked in their homes because of the pandemic.

“May mga lumalabas na studies na tumataas pa 'yung kaso ng abuso sa mga bata ngayon dahil nakakulong lang sa bahay,” he said.

Rico also said that Ang Lihim ni Lea aims to raise awareness and help victims speak up against child abuse.

“Nakapag-usap kami Augie na gawin kaya natin itong animation para mas marami pang makaintindi at makapanood kung ano 'yung puwedeng mangyari sa kanila at kung anong pwedeng gawin nila kung mangyari sa kanila ito,” Rico said.

Augie added, “Marami tayong hindi alam sa tema. Ang dami tuloy maling information tayong nakukuha.

“Nangyayari siya sa lahat, mayaman, mahirap, nanyayari siya. At kailangan tayong mag-raise ng awareness para maprotektahan natin 'yung mga bata.”

Ang Lihim ni Lea also targets to highlight the importance of open communication between parents and children.

Kapuso actress Eugene Domingo is also part of Ang Lihim ni Lea or Lea's Secret as its narrator. It also stars the voices of actress Alessandra de Rossi and comedienne Candy Pangilinan.

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