There are many rising stars with promise – and then there is the shapeshifting Qymira, an artist operating at the centre of cinema, sound, and visual storytelling. Following her breakout lead role and original score debut in Pedring Lopez’s gripping Shadow Transit, she now returns to the screen in LOTUS, an international action thriller pushing her further into global film territory.
Produced by ACT3 and Blackops Studios Asia, LOTUS is not simply a sequel in momentum – it’s a star-studded, cultural fusion that places Qymira alongside imprinted names in Hollywood. The film brings together an eclectic international cast, including Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr (Jerry Maguire), Australian actor Luke Ford (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Animal Kingdom), Irish pop icon Keith Duffy of Boyzone (whom she supported on UK tour last year), actor-producer Cristian Lavin and Brazilian actor Alberto Cowboy – positioning Qymira at the centre of a production designed for worldwide success.
Stylistically, LOTUS is set to blend neo-noir grit with high-impact action, setting its narrative between the glittering chaos of Manila and the contrasting intensity of Brazil. It is a world of opposites – beauty and violence – filtered through director Pedring Lopez’s realistic yet visually enticing filmmaking approach. The project, already garnering anticipation, follows the international festival trajectory of Shadow Transit, showing at the likes of the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival. With Cannes market introductions already securing interest, LOTUS arrives with serious industry attention attached.
But while the scale is expanding and the all-star cast news spreads like wildfire, Qymira’s approach to her second lead role remains personal and character-focused, showing her unwavering commitment to its powerful story. Her quote reveals a rare connection between the script and her own lived experience:
“After the incredible experience of ‘Shadow Transit,’ returning to work with Pedring and the Black ops team on ‘Lotus’ feels very special to me,” said Qymira.
“This film is bigger, darker and even more ambitious, and I’m excited to be part of a story that connects Manila and Brazil in such a visceral way. Brazil has also held a special place in my heart especially after having performed at the Salvador Carnival and released several Portuguese and English songs with local artists which topped the Bahia radio charts, so bringing those worlds together in this film feels incredibly personal.”
That sense of lived cultural crossover is what has always Qymira apart. Her career already spans orchestral composition, touring, fashion design through Qymira Couture, a selection of high-drama pop hits and philanthropic leadership with The One Gaia Foundation.
As she immerses herself in the leading role once more, this marks a defining leap into the Hollywood Hills – and the shimmering promise of LOTUS may be just the beginning.
