Abramorama has acquired North American theatrical rights to Eraserheads: Combo on the Run, the award-winning documentary about the legendary Filipino rock band, from DVent Pictures.
Directed and produced by Maria Diane Ventura, the film traces the band’s entire trajectory, from their origins as college students in the Philippines in 1989, to their rise in the aftermath of the EDSA People Power revolution, to their rise as a generation-defining act and reunion tour that drew nearly a quarter of a million fans. The acquisition marks Abramorama’s first Philippine music film.
Drawing on candid interviews, never-before-seen archival material, and rare behind-the-scenes footage, this documentary examines the band’s trajectory through fame, internal tensions, personal growth, and lasting cultural impact. The film also places Eraserheads within the broader context of Philippine society and explores how their music became connected to the country’s identity during a time of intense political division.
The film has already established a remarkable track record even before its North American release. The film became the first Filipino music documentary to receive the widest theatrical release in the Philippines through Warner Bros., and the first Filipino film to be screened at San Diego Comic-Con. This festival circuit brought further recognition, including winning the Best International Documentary Award at the Ierapetra International Feature Documentary Festival in Greece. The film was also screened at the official Spotlight on the Philippines program at the 44th Hawaii International Film Festival, Doc Berlin and Liverpool Film Festivals.
Formed in Quezon City in 1989 by Eli Buendia, Marcus Adro, Buddy Zavala, and Raimundo Marasigan, Eraserheads, also known as the “Filipino Beatles,” are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of original Filipino music. Their catalog has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify alone, and in 1997 they became the first Filipino artist to win the MTV Asia Audience Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards.
“We are very excited about our partnership with Abramorama,” Ventura said. “They’re the perfect home for this film, not only because of their accomplishments in music documentary, but because they understand the story that resonates on a deeper cultural level. The film is rooted in the music of Eraserheads, but it speaks to division, reconciliation, and healing in a turbulent political moment.”
“The story of the Eraserheads is one of extraordinary music, but it is about something bigger: homecoming,” Abramorama CEO and President Karol Maltesco-Fenster and Damon G. Smith, SVP of Business Growth and Creative Strategy, said in a joint statement. It’s also about belonging, healing, and finding your way back to each other. Maria Diane Ventura captures the dynamics of relationships with real depth and heart, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this film to North American audiences for the first time.”
Western Film Services’ Joe Garel will work with the Abramorama and AB2 Media Group teams to lead theatrical sales for the North American release, working on strategies targeting the Filipino community, music audiences and specialty markets. The collaboration builds on Abramorama and Western Film Service’s previous collaboration on the Filipino romance film “Hello Love Again,” which set a record box office in North America.
“Eraserheads: Combo on the Run” joins Abramorama’s series of music documentaries, including “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years” directed by Grammy Award-winning Ron Howard, “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” directed by Paris Berkeley, and “You’ve Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine” directed by Fiona Prine. The film will be released in multiple markets in the US and Canada on April 24th.
