Philippines Punk Scene Takes Center Stage in Tokyo Gap-Financing Market Project ‘Ria’ From ‘Plan 75’ Producer – TIFFCOM

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran A feature debut exploring The Philippines‘ underground punk scene and social activism is participating at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, which is part of the Tokyo International Film Festival‘s TIFFCOM market. “Ria,” directed by award-winning short filmmaker Arvin Belarmino, centers on 25-year-old Ria, who lives in a punk commune facing demolition while caring for her diabetic foster mother.

Working as a hotel housekeeper, she becomes entangled in underground porn operations as financial pressures mount. The story culminates in Ria mobilizing her punk community against the forces threatening their home.

For Belarmino, the project emerges from direct experience. “I have always wanted to make a film about the Filipino punk community, because it is the community I am in,” says the director, who has been organizing mutual aid efforts with punk groups since 2013. “We visit marginalized areas and give food and basic necessities to those in need.

This is our form of resistance against the system that pushes us to struggle over our most basic rights. I do this until today, the only difference is I’m now making a film about it.” Belarmino’s shorts have won several awards, with “Radikals” scoring a Cannes nomination earlier this year. “While sometimes strange and bizzare, my short films have always had sociopolitical layers to them.