Busan Winner 'Ria,' Arvin Belarmino's Folk-Punk Debut, Boards Lights On

Arvin Belarmino's debut feature "Ria" has found an international sales home. Lights On, the sales company run by co-founder and managing director Flavio Armone, picked up the film after its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, where it won the Heart of Eurasia Award.

The deal links Lights On to one of Busan's celebrated titles. "Ria" tells the story of a young woman from the folk-punk scene who takes on a property developer to save her home. Ria teams up with her foster mother and their fellow punks to resist a merciless developer intent on tearing down their building. It is the last structure left standing in a neighborhood already reduced to rubble.

The film is a co-production between the Philippines, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Norway.

What does the deal mean for the film?

For a first feature without distribution, a sales agent is the bridge to festivals and buyers beyond Busan. Lights On signaled its ambition for the title in unusually strong language.

"An ode to rebellion and a fierce cry against injustice, 'Ria' is a film that reminds us of cinema's ability to resist, question, and confront the world around us. A film that deserves to travel far and connect with audiences across borders," said Armone.

He added that the company felt particular pride in the project because it extends an existing relationship with the director. The two previously collaborated on "Agapito," a short that debuted at Cannes, co-directed by Belarmino with Kyla Romero.

Belarmino, for his part, framed the partnership in personal terms.

"I'm so happy to be collaborating with Lights On. They've been part of my journey as a filmmaker, witnessing my growth from my short film to now bringing my feature film to life. There's something so fulfilling about finding people who see your vision, believe in your stories, and grow alongside you," the director said.

Producer Kristine De Leon confirmed that the production had been difficult. "Having people you can trust makes the journey a little lighter. That's something I've found with Lights On," she said.

Where does 'Ria' sit on the Lights On slate?

The acquisition places Belarmino's debut alongside a slate with a strong festival record:

• "Becoming Human," Polen Ly's Cambodian feature, a 2025 Venice title and Cambodia's Oscar submission this year.
• "Hair, Paper, Water…," by Nicolas Graux and Trương Minh Quý, which played Locarno in 2025.

That lineup positions Lights On as a buyer of Southeast Asian and Asia-adjacent arthouse cinema with awards credentials. "Ria" extends the pattern, arriving with a Busan jury prize and a five-country production credit.

The next test is the market. With Lights On handling sales, the film now moves from its Busan premiere toward international buyers and further festival slots — the journey its director says the company has already witnessed from short film to feature.