901 Studios, the production company behind Bar Boys: After School, has released the trailer for Ria, Arvin Belarmino’s feature debut and entry at the 2026 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
The release comes over a year after Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero, who co-wrote the screenplay for Ria, brought their co-directed short Agapito to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Actress Nour Hooshmand, who played Agapito’s protagonist Mira, now stars as the titular character in Ria.
The upcoming feature film follows Ria, a young woman who lives in a punk commune called Tarima and works as a hotel housekeeper to fund the treatment of Tarima’s diabetic matriarch, Olga (Sylvia Sanchez). Ria and her chosen family also struggle to defend their commune as it faces demolition by a developer.
Aside from Sanchez and Hooshmand, the film also stars Iana Bernardez, Veronica Reyes, Anastasia Bartolome, Soliman Cruz, Kevin Regalado, RS Magtaan, Andre Miguel, Paolo O’Hara, Jing Diaz, Rico Torrente, Mark Anthony Estabillo, Lei Tigcal, and Anthonio Mendiola Lana Jr.
A product of the 2022 Cannes Cinéfondation residency, Ria will make its world premiere at BIFF in October, where it competes with 22 other films in the Vision Asia Competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvin Belarmino directed short films such as Nakaw (2016), The Death of Pablo (2016), Hinakdal (2023), Radikals (2024), and Agapito (2025). He also co-wrote the Bangladeshi-Philippine film Ali, which earned special recognition at Cannes in 2025.
Nour Hooshmand is known for her work in independent Filipino films, most notably Filipiñana (2026), Cinemartyrs (2025), the animated film Runo! (2025), A Very Good Girl (2023), Sleep With Me (2022), and The Kangks Show (2021). Most recently, she appeared in minor roles in the 2026 Cinemalaya entries Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam and 2 Valid IDs.
The Busan International Film Festival highlights new films and first-time directors from Asia. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently deemed BIFF a pathway for eligibility in the International Feature Film category, joining Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto. This means that Busan’s grand prize directly qualifies the winning film for Oscar consideration.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 6 to October 15, 2026, opening at the Busan Film Center in South Korea.
Aside from Ria, the black comedy Filipiñana, Carl Joseph Papa’s animated documentary 58th, and Lav Diaz’s 2026 Venice International Film Festival entry Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors) will also be showcased at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
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