Nathan Studios showcases Phl cinema at 31st Busan Film Festival

Veteran actress and film producer Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde joined international filmmakers on the red carpet at the 31st Busan International Film Festival to showcase three Nathan Studios co-productions representing Philippine cinema on the global stage, organizers announced.

Sanchez-Atayde and actress Nour Hooshmand attended screenings and industry events at the Busan Cinema Center, promoting the feature films "Ria," "Nagi Notes," and "Filipiñana" before delegates and cinema audiences from 59 countries.

"It is time to level up and conquer the international film market," Sanchez-Atayde said.

"I am so proud to be a Filipino when films that Nathan Studios and I are a part of are recognized and shown on the global stage, especially here at the Busan Film Festival where thousands of people from around the world have seen them," she added.

The festival features 316 films across various programs, including 247 official selections and 69 titles in the community section alongside the Asian Contents and Film Market.

"Ria," a 95-minute feature directed by Arvin Belarmino, made its world premiere in the festival’s Vision Asia competition section. Co-produced across the Philippines, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, the drama explores urban displacement, poverty, and human rights through the story of an urban community resisting forced demolition.

In the film, Hooshmand plays the title character, a young musician advocating for her neighborhood, while Sanchez-Atayde portrays Olga, an ailing community matriarch dealing with diabetes. The supporting cast includes Iana Bernardez, Veronica Reyes, Anastasia Bartolome, Kevin Regalado, Soliman Cruz, Paolo O’Hara, RS Magtaan, and Andre Miguel.

The festival scheduled four screenings for "Ria" across Busan venues, beginning at the Busan Cinema Center on Saturday, Oct. 10, with additional screenings scheduled at CGV Centum City and the Busan Community Media Center through Wednesday, 14 October.

Nathan Studios also brought "Nagi Notes," a Philippine production partnership with Japanese director Koji Fukada, and "Filipiñana," a feature directed by Rafael Manuel, both running in the festival's screening lineups through 14 October.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival concludes 16 October.