Scenes from Levitating (Para Perasuk) (left) and Filipiñana (right), two films with Nathan Studios credits selected for screening at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. – Photo credit: Courtesy of the filmmakers / Sundance Film Festival
Nathan Studios earns international recognition as two films, Filipiñana and Levitati
MANILA / PARK CITY, Utah — Nathan Studios, a Philippine production company described in industry reporting as family-owned, is credited on two films selected for screening at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026, placing the studio within the official lineup of one of the world’s most closely watched independent film events.
The 2026 festival runs from January 22 to February 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, with an online component scheduled for the latter portion of the program, according to festival organizers.
Sundance selection marks expanded international presence
Sundance’s annual selection process draws thousands of submissions from around the world. Films chosen for the final program are screened before audiences that include distributors, programmers, critics, and industry executives, making inclusion a significant marker of international visibility for independent producers.
Two films with Nathan Studios credits enter 2026 lineup
Festival program materials list Nathan Studios in the producer or co-producer credits of “Filipiñana” and “
‘Filipiñana’ screens in World Cinema Dramatic Competition
Directed by Rafael Manuel, Filipiñana is programmed in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, one of Sundance’s flagship sections. The film follows a young woman working at an elite country club whose growing closeness to its president leads her to uncover unsettling truths beneath the institution’s carefully maintained image.
The project is an international co-production involving partners from the Philippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands, reflecting the cross-border financing and collaboration models increasingly common in contemporary independent filmmaking.
‘Levitating (Para Perasuk)’ included in feature program
Levitating (Para Perasuk) is also part of the festival’s 2026 feature lineup. Festival descriptions center on a young spirit channeler navigating trance rituals while trying to raise money to prevent eviction, situating the story within a blend of social realism and ritual practice. The film’s inclusion further extends Nathan Studios’ presence across multiple narrative forms within the program.
Projects highlight cross-border production structure
Industry observers note that both films reflect a broader trend in which Southeast Asian producers partner with European and regional counterparts to access larger financing pools and international festival platforms. For Philippine companies, such collaborations can provide pathways to wider distribution and sustained global engagement beyond domestic release cycles.
Festival schedule and platform
The Sundance Film Festival is organized by the nonprofit Sundance Institute and remains a central marketplace for independent cinema. The 2026 edition has drawn additional attention as it is widely reported to be the final festival hosted in Park City before a planned relocation beginning in 2027.
