Maria Diane Ventura’s documentary feature film provides an unflinching portrait of the country’s most successful band of all time
It’s official: Eraserheads: Combo On The Run will be hitting theaters nationwide for one weekend only, from March 21-23, 2025.
This highly anticipated film takes a deep dive into the heart and soul of a band that shaped a generation. It unveils the untold story of the band’s painful breakup and the personal and professional challenges they faced to reunite for their historic 2022 performance. This reunion came at a time when the nation was grappling with political division and uncertainty.
Eraserheads: Combo On The Run offers a powerful exploration of how a once-disbanded group of punks came together, offering solace to a nation while, perhaps unknowingly, embarking on a journey of healing for themselves.
Producer and filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura, who led the project, believes the film is much more than just the story of a band’s breakup or the clash of egos. “This is a deconstruction of the band’s mythology, humanity, and the complex relationships that defined them,” she explains. “It’s an important work that captures the band’s raw honesty and reveals why they mattered and continue to resonate with audiences today.”
Ventura, known for her award-winning work in film and music, reflects on the vulnerability shown by the band members throughout the process. “Eraserheads are notorious for their guarded aloofness, so I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed them open up in ways the public has never seen before,” she recalls. “Their candidness was a gift—not just cathartic for them, but transformative for me as both a filmmaker and audience member. It encouraged me to reflect on my own truths, and I hope it inspires others to do the same.”
The road to completing Eraserheads: Combo On The Run was anything but easy. Ventura admits that the process was physically and emotionally taxing. “Each interview revealed new layers, which required us to continually reshape the narrative. Documentaries are unpredictable, and I have immense respect for documentary filmmakers. It’s a wild ride that can go in a million directions. We had over 30 reshoots across two years and 58 versions with the help of 4 editors. I’ve been lucky to have support from great friends, filmmakers, and the band. If it weren’t for Ely Buendia, Francis Lumen, and the help of partners like Warner, WEU, Voyage Studios, and Offshore, I don’t think this would have been possible. This will likely be my first and last documentary, but for the Eraserheads, who played such a significant role in my career, it was an exception. They are the greatest Filipino band, with Ely as the best songwriter of all time. This film is my way of honoring their legacy.”
