ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Nathan Studios makes waves at Sundance 2026

Nathan Studios makes waves at Sundance 2026

Published Jan 27, 2026 09:44 pm
Riding high on the critical acclaim of the trailblazing film “I’m Perfect”—winner of Best Picture and Best Actress at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival—Nathan Studios enters 2026 with unstoppable momentum. The studio is a co-producer of two films officially selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, both competing in the prestigious World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Sylvia Sanchez (center) and the cast of 'I'mPerfect'
Sylvia Sanchez (center) and the cast of 'I'mPerfect'
Renowned for fearless, conversation-starting storytelling—from “Bagman” to “Cattleya Killer,” “Topakk,” and “I’m Perfect”—Nathan Studios continues to champion cinema that blurs the boundaries between art and life, truth and imagination.
Sundance 2026 marks another milestone in Nathan Studios’ quest to bring disruptive Southeast Asian stories to a global audience, partnering with international creatives to present two remarkable films.
The first is Wregas Bhanuteja’s “Levitating (Para Perasuk),” the acclaimed filmmaker’s third feature to premiere at Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
This multi-country co-production—spanning Indonesia, Singapore, France, Taiwan, and the Philippines via Nathan Studios—underscores the studio’s expanding footprint in international collaborations.
Critics have lauded the film’s bold, lyrical style, with Screen International highlighting its emotional ambition and standout performances from Angga Yunanda, Maudy Ayunda, and Indonesian music icon Anggun.
“Levitating (Para Perasuk)” is a poetic Indonesian drama probing faith, obsession, and transcendence through music and belief, as lives intersect in unexpected and haunting ways.
Nathan Studios also co-produced “Filipiniana,” further reinforcing its growing presence on the global arthouse scene.
Directed and written by Rafael Manuel, “Filipiniana” is an international co-production involving Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and the Philippines. It is also competing in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
The official film poster of 'I'mPerfect.'
The official film poster of 'I'mPerfect.'
“Filipiniana” is an intimate Southeast Asian narrative examining human connection under pressure—where personal longing, moral choices, and cultural identity collide in both quiet and explosive moments.
For Nathan Studios, Sundance 2026 represents more than just festival participation—it’s the realization of a passionate dream.
“Talagang ang isa sa mga objectives namin ay maging part ng mga pelikulang kakaiba ang tema at atake. (One of our objectives is to be part of films with unique themes and attacks)," shares Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde, one of the studio’s key creative forces.
“Drawn kami sa mga materyal na may sinasabi — kahit masakit, kahit uncomfortable. Kasi doon nagiging totoo ang pelikula. At kapag totoo, kahit saan mo dalhin, may makaka-relate. (We are drawn to material that says something — even if it's painful, even if it's uncomfortable. Because that's where the film becomes real. And when it's real, no matter where you take it, someone can relate.)"
With the history that “I’m Perfect” created in mainstream Filipino cinema and its Sundance-bound projects, pushing Southeast Asian storytelling onto the world stage, Nathan Studios opens 2026 exactly where it belongs — at the intersection of courage, craft, and cultural relevance.
As international audiences turn their eyes to Sundance, one thing is clear: this Pinoy film company is no longer just arriving — it is now strongly felt — globally.
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.