Arvin Belarmino's debut feature 'Ria,' about a young woman from the folk-punk scene resisting a property developer, won the Heart of Eurasia Award at Busan and has been picked up for international sales by Lights On.
01Summary
- 01The film had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, where it won the Heart of Eurasia Award.
- 02The story follows Ria, who teams up with her foster mother and fellow punks to resist a developer demolishing their building, the last structure in a ruined neighbourhood.
- 03It is a co-production involving the Philippines, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Norway.
- 04Lights On co-founder Flavio Armone praised the film as an 'ode to rebellion' and said the company had previously worked with Belarmino on the short 'Agapito'.
- 05Lights On's slate also includes Cambodian Oscar submission 'Becoming Human' and the Locarno title 'Hair, Paper, Water…'.
02Why it matters
This matters because it highlights a rising Filipino filmmaker whose socially conscious indie debut is gaining international traction, offering a gritty, punk-infused story about community resistance that could resonate with global audiences.
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