Maria Diane Ventura, director of Eraserheads: Combo On The Run, has received the Best International Director Award at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) Music Documentary Film Festival in New York.
The recognition came after the Eraserheads documentary was screened at the festival on September 27, 2026. Ventura and Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia also took part in a special post-screening conversation with the audience.
The award adds another international distinction to Combo On The Run, which chronicles the story and legacy of one of the Philippines' most influential bands.
What is Eraserheads: Combo On The Run about?
Eraserheads: Combo On The Run is a music documentary centered on the Eraserheads and their place in Philippine music and popular culture.
The band, composed of Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro, became one of the defining acts of the Philippine alternative music scene in the 1990s.
Their music eventually reached audiences beyond the local alternative scene, helping establish the Eraserheads as a major cultural reference point for Filipino music.
The documentary's international screenings allow that history to be presented to audiences who may be unfamiliar with the band's influence in the Philippines.
Why is the LIMEHOF award significant?
The Best International Director Award recognizes Ventura's direction at a documentary film festival associated with the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
The film was screened at the festival on September 27, followed by a discussion involving Ventura and Buendia.
For a documentary built around a specifically Filipino musical and cultural story, the international setting is significant because it places the Eraserheads' history in front of audiences outside the Philippines.
Ventura said the response has been meaningful because the film is rooted in Filipino culture, music, and shared experiences.
“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.”
She also described the continued international reception as a reminder of the potential for Filipino music and stories to reach audiences beyond the country.
How does the documentary bring Filipino music to international audiences?
Music documentaries can serve as more than artist profiles. They can also preserve the cultural circumstances surrounding a particular period in music history.
In the case of Combo On The Run, the Eraserheads provide a way to explore a significant period in Philippine popular culture through the story of the band.
The film's international screenings therefore introduce viewers to both the group and the cultural context surrounding its music.
That broader context is particularly relevant for younger audiences and international viewers who may know individual Eraserheads songs but have less familiarity with the band's place in Philippine music history.
What's next for Combo On The Run?
Produced by DVent Productions, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run has continued its journey following its theatrical run in the Philippines and subsequent international screenings.
The documentary's latest recognition comes as DVent Productions also expands its work in live entertainment.
The production company recently co-produced the Ely Buendia and Chito Miranda concert in Dubai with Live Nation and Tiana. The August 30, 2026 concert was held at the Coca-Cola Arena and drew a sold-out audience, according to the supplied release.
Together, the documentary screenings and overseas live shows point to a broader international audience for Filipino music and artists.
For Combo On The Run, the LIMEHOF recognition gives the Eraserheads' story another opportunity to reach viewers beyond the Philippines.
