‘Eraserheads: Combo On The Run’ Wins Best International Director Award in New York
Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
Eraserheads: Combo On The Run has earned another international award, with director Maria Diane Ventura winning Best International Director at the 2026 Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival in New York. The recognition follows the Filipino documentary’s continued run on the international festival circuit.
The film screened on September 27, 2026, with Ventura and Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia joining a special conversation after the screening.
Maria Diane Ventura Wins Best International Director
The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) Music Documentary Film Festival ran from September 25 to 27 in Stony Brook, New York.
This year’s program featured 43 short and feature-length documentaries, alongside Q&A sessions and live performances. Films covered genres ranging from rock and jazz to classical, Latin, K-pop, and folk music.
Eraserheads: Combo On The Run was among the international titles screened on the final day of the festival.
Ventura received the festival’s Best International Director Award, while other honors went to documentaries about artists including Billy Preston, Kenny Loggins, Ann Wilson, and Peter Asher.
The full list of winners is available through the official LIMEHOF website.
Eraserheads’ Story Reaches Audiences Outside the Philippines
For Ventura, the recognition carries extra weight because the documentary tells a story deeply connected to Filipino music and pop culture.
The filmmaker said seeing the project connect with audiences abroad has made its international journey especially meaningful.
Speaking about the film’s growing reach, Ventura said she was grateful that a “distinctly Filipino story continues to find its place in the world.”
That international reach has become a major part of the documentary’s journey.
After its theatrical release in the Philippines, Combo On The Run expanded to screenings outside the country. The film has also become available to audiences worldwide through streaming.
What Is ‘Eraserheads: Combo On The Run’ About?
Directed and written by Ventura, Eraserheads: Combo On The Run follows the story of one of the Philippines’ most influential rock bands.
The documentary features:
- Ely Buendia
- Raymund Marasigan
- Buddy Zabala
- Marcus Adoro
Using archival footage and candid interviews, the film explores the band’s rise, eventual breakup, and major reunion.
A central part of the documentary focuses on the Eraserheads’ 2022 Huling El Bimbo reunion concert, which brought all four members back together for a massive show in Parañaque.
Rather than simply revisiting their hit songs, the film also looks at the relationships and personal histories behind the band.
The Documentary Continues Its International Run
The LIMEHOF award follows a wider international push for Combo On The Run.
The film has traveled beyond its Philippine theatrical release and introduced the Eraserheads’ story to viewers who may not have grown up with songs such as “With a Smile,” “Pare Ko,” or “Ang Huling El Bimbo.”
Its international version also includes additional context for viewers less familiar with the Philippine music scene.
For longtime Eraserheads fans in Manila, the documentary works as a look back at a band closely tied to several generations of Filipino listeners. For audiences overseas, it offers an entry point into the group’s place in OPM history.
Where to Watch ‘Eraserheads: Combo On The Run’
Fans who missed the theatrical release can now watch Eraserheads: Combo On The Run on Netflix.
The streaming version uses a reworked cut of the documentary, with additional footage and context intended for an international audience.
You can find the film on its official Netflix page.
The documentary is also featured on the official Eraserheads: Combo On The Run website.
A Growing International Spotlight on Filipino Music Stories
Ventura’s latest award adds another international milestone to the documentary’s run.
It also comes as Filipino musicians, filmmakers, and music projects continue finding audiences outside the Philippines.
For Combo On The Run, the international attention puts a distinctly Filipino rock story in front of viewers who may be discovering the Eraserheads for the first time.
With the film now streaming internationally, that story has room to travel even further.
