EXCLUSIVE: ‘Hindi lang ako ‘to’: Nour Hooshmand gets emotional as ‘Ria’ wins in Busan

Director Arvin Belarmino called Hooshmand “my Ria” as he accepted the Heart of Eurasia Award at BIFF.

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino’s debut feature film “Ria” has won the Heart of Eurasia Award in the Vision section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), giving Philippine cinema another international accolade.

The film received the award at the festival’s Busan Vision Awards on October 14. The prize carries a cash award of ₩10 million for an Asian film in the Vision section.

Belarmino attended the awards ceremony with lead actor Nour Hooshmand, Kevin Regalado, co-writer Kyla Danelle Romero, and producers Kristine De Leon and Yuki Mikami.

In his acceptance speech, the director dedicated the recognition to the film’s cast and crew, giving special mention to Hooshmand, whom he called “my Ria.”

For Hooshmand, the recognition comes after an emotional world premiere that brought back memories of the film’s production and reminded her of the collective effort behind the project.

In an exclusive interview with radar Entertainment, the actress recalled how she and her collaborators could not hold back their tears when they finally saw “Ria” on the big screen.

“Sobrang overwhelming ng world premiere ng ‘Ria.’ Iyak lang kami ng iyak since start hanggang especially nung dulo,” Hooshmand said, recalling the emotional reactions of Belarmino and her co-star Sylvia Sanchez.

It was also her first time seeing the completed film on the big screen. “I think lahat lang ng memories of shooting nag-flashback sa akin, and all the hard work and patience that was needed to complete that film,” she said.

But what moved her most was seeing the names of everyone who had contributed to the film roll across the screen. “‘Hindi lang ako ‘to. Ang dami namin dito para mabuo ‘tong film na ‘to na may mahalagang mensahe,” she recalled thinking as the credits rolled.

“It really takes a village to create a film,” she added, expressing pride that the film had finally premiered and hope that Filipino audiences would soon get to see it.

Arvin ‘listens’ at ‘Ria’ premiere

The world premiere was especially challenging for Belarmino, who was recovering from an eye operation and had been advised by doctors not to watch films because his eye was not yet ready.

According to Hooshmand, the director still wanted to be present to experience the audience’s energy, even if he could not watch the film himself. “So nakikinig lang po siya, nakatungo lang siya the whole time,” she said.

Belarmino later told them that the sound was beautiful, giving him a different appreciation of the film.

Despite the health challenge, Hooshmand said the team felt fortunate that everyone had made it to Busan for the premiere.

“Si Direk naman is healing na but he has to stay in Busan kasi hindi kaya ng mata niya to fly out,” she said, explaining that the pressure from flying could affect his recently operated eye.

Doctors have advised the filmmaker to remain in South Korea until his eye is ready for air travel.

Korean audiences embrace ‘Ria’

Beyond the emotional premiere, Hooshmand was surprised by the enthusiasm of Korean film enthusiasts, some of whom approached the cast at their hotel even before the screening to ask for autographs.

“Nakagulat actually ‘yong mga nagpapa-autograph kasi kahit before pa noong premiere, meron ng mga lumalapit sa amin sa hotel na may mga posters, nagpapaprima,” she said.

She also praised the audience’s support for films featured at BIFF, saying the cast had received encouraging feedback about “Ria.”

“Ang daming nagpapasa sign, nakakatuwa, na-appreciate nila. And we’ve been hearing a lot of good feedback about it,” she said.

Still processing the experience, Hooshmand said she was eager for the film to reach audiences back home.

“I’m so proud that it’s finally premiered and I can’t wait to actually bring it home and have the whole community see it, witness it,” she said.

A milestone for PH Cinema

‘Ria’ premiered under Vision–Asia, a section showcasing independent films from across the continent. The Philippine-Dutch-Norwegian-Saudi-Japanese co-production marks Belarmino’s first feature-length directorial effort.

The film centers on Ria, a folk-punk musician living in a community facing eviction, poverty and violence. By day, she works as a chambermaid; by night, she performs as a punk musician. Hooshmand plays the rebellious young woman at the heart of the story.

Founded in 1996, BIFF has grown into one of Asia’s major film festivals, providing a platform for filmmakers to introduce their work to international audiences and connect with industry professionals.

For “Ria,” winning the Heart of Eurasia Award marks a significant achievement for its cast and crew, bringing international recognition to their work and another Filipino production into the spotlight of Asian independent cinema.

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