Abramorama acquires Eraserheads: Combo On The Run in historic first for Philippine music docs, ahead of official SXSW 2026 event

 In a historic first, Abramorama has acquired the theatrical rights to screen Eraserheads: Combo On The Run in North America, marking the distributor’s first Philippine documentary. 

Following a strong festival run abroad, the docu film joins Abramorama’s slate of prestige music film titles, including The Beatles: Eight Days (Ron Howard), The Sparks Brothers (Edgar Wright), and Radiohead’s Meeting People Is Easy (Grant Gee). 

The acquisition will be marked by an official event at SXSW 2026 next month to celebrate its forthcoming theatrical release in Canada and the United States.

Directed and produced by Maria Diane Ventura, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run tells the story of the Philippines’ most influential band, tracing their meteoric rise from their formation in UP Diliman to becoming a defining voice of a generation, their painful breakup, and their eventual resurgence years later. 

Set against the backdrop of the Philippines’ shifting socio-political landscape, the film situates the band’s journey within a country grappling with deep political polarization, reflecting how their music and story became intertwined with the nation’s cultural memory.

Blending intimate interviews, never-before-seen archival footage, and unfiltered behind the scenes access, the film explores fame, fracture, growth, legacy, and the enduring bond between the band and generations shaped by their music.

“I’m incredibly excited about this partnership with Abramorama,” said director and producer Maria Diane Ventura. “They are the perfect home for this film, not just because of their legacy in music documentaries, but because they understand stories that resonate on a deeper cultural level. While the film is rooted in the Eraserheads’ music, it ultimately speaks to division, reconciliation, and healing during a turbulent political moment. Those themes feel especially relevant today, not only for Filipinos, but for audiences everywhere.”

Ventura adds, “It’s also deeply important to me that this film helps reintroduce the band and their music to a new generation, and that it creates space for Filipino stories, nuance, and complexity to be seen with greater depth. Filipinos are part of so many communities around the world, and I hope this film allows people to see us more fully, while also reminding audiences more broadly how powerful it is to feel seen in culture. When people recognize themselves in a story, it creates empathy, connection, and a sense of shared humanity across communities. Ultimately, this film is about how stories and music can bring us closer to one another, even across divides and differences.”

The film has already marked several key milestones, including becoming the first Filipino music documentary to receive the widest theatrical release in the Philippines through Warner Bros., and the first Filipino film to be featured and screened at San Diego Comic-Con. 

It has also been recognized on the global festival circuit, winning Best International Documentary at the Ierapetra International Feature Documentary Festival in Greece, and screening as part of the official Spotlight on the Philippines program at the 44th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival, as well as Doc Berlin and the Liverpool Film Festival.

For updates, announcements, and ticket information, visit eraserheadsfilm.com