Eraserheads: Combo on The Run Director Wins Best International Director Award in New York

The perspective-driven documentary of the legendary Filipino rock band Eraserheads continues to rack up international recognition, as filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura got the nod for Best International Director at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) Music Documentary Film Festival in New York.

Eraserheads: Combo on The Run was shown at the festival on Sept. 27, which also saw Ventura and EHeads' frontman, record label owner, and a director himself, Ely Buendia, hosting a special post-screening conversation.

“Every recognition Combo on the Run receives still feels a little surreal to me. We made a film that is deeply rooted in our culture, our music, and our collective experience as Filipinos, so to watch it continue to travel and connect with audiences outside of home is incredibly meaningful,” according to Ventura.

“More than the award itself, I’m grateful that the film continues to create space for our stories and our artists on an international stage. I’ve always believed in the power and brilliance of Filipino talent. If Combo on the Run can contribute even a little to bringing more attention to that, then every difficult decision, sleepless night, and challenge it took to make this film has been worth it.”

ALSO READ:

Eraserheads: Combo on The Run to Arrive on Netflix on May 30

Expect Eraserheads Deep Cuts, Surprises At The Stacked Electric Fun Music Festival

The divisive story of one of the most transformative rock outfits in Philippine music had also debuted on Netflix on May 30, with reworked footage and additional commentary on the band's lore as it expanded the group's reach to nearly 200 countries.

You could see setting as a time warp and an unadulterated view on how the local music business in the 1990s forced corporate commercialization, relentless touring schedules, and the eventual need to recognize unfiltered interpersonal dynamics between members

It had a notable international run ahead of the forthcoming Netflix release, with a screening at San Diego Comic-Con last year alongside a launch of a comic book of the same name. This is the first Filipino-produced film and the first music documentary to be featured at the yearly pop culture convention.

A revelatory piece that had won Best International Feature Documentary at the 12th Ierapetra International Documentary and Film Festival in Crete, Greece.

Eraserheads: Combo on The Run had been first released locally on March 21 last year, with the work covering themes of friendship, conflict, identity, and reconciliation among the members of the zeitgeist-defining Philippine rock band.

READ MORE:

Eraserheads: Combo on The Run to Arrive on Netflix on May 30