Acquisition
Kino Lorber Acquires Distribution Rights to Sundance Film 'Filipiñana'
•February 12, 2026
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Why It Matters
The deal brings a politically resonant, visually striking art film to North American audiences, enhancing the visibility of Southeast Asian voices in the indie market.
Key Takeaways
- •Kino Lorber acquires “Filipiñana” after Sundance award
- •Film won Special Jury Award for Creative Vision
- •Release spans theatrical, digital, educational, and home video
- •Director expands 2020 short into politically charged feature
- •Explores elite resort's hidden violence in Philippines
Pulse Analysis
The acquisition of "Filipiñana" by Kino Lorber signals a growing appetite for daring international narratives within the U.S. independent circuit. Sundance’s Special Jury Award for Creative Vision highlighted the film’s inventive storytelling, blending striking visual composition with a subtle yet potent critique of class and colonial legacies in the Philippines. By championing a debut from Rafael Manuel, Kino Lorber reinforces its reputation for introducing groundbreaking foreign works—recalling past successes with Miguel Gomes’ "Tabu" and Yorgos Lanthimos’ "Dogtooth"—and positions the company at the forefront of curating culturally rich cinema for discerning audiences.
Beyond its festival accolades, "Filipiñana" offers a layered exploration of power dynamics, using the microcosm of a luxury country club to expose systemic inequities. The protagonist’s journey from lining golf balls to confronting the resort’s dark underbelly mirrors broader societal tensions, resonating with viewers attuned to global social justice themes. This narrative depth, combined with meticulous sound design and choreography, provides a compelling case study for film scholars and educators seeking contemporary examples of cinema that intertwines aesthetic innovation with political commentary.
The multi‑platform release strategy—encompassing theatrical, digital, educational, and home‑video formats—maximizes the film’s reach across diverse audience segments. Educational licensing will enable universities and cultural institutions to incorporate the film into curricula on Southeast Asian studies, postcolonial theory, and visual arts. Meanwhile, the digital rollout ensures accessibility for streaming‑savvy viewers, expanding the film’s commercial viability while preserving its artistic integrity. Kino Lorber’s commitment to such comprehensive distribution underscores the evolving business model for art-house titles in a fragmented media landscape.
Deal Summary
Kino Lorber announced it has acquired North American distribution rights to Rafael Manuel’s feature debut 'Filipiñana', which premiered at Sundance and won the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. The acquisition was negotiated by Kino Lorber’s VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Austin Kennedy of sales agent Magnify. The film will be released theatrically later this year, followed by digital and home video releases.
Article
Source: The Wrap
Kino Lorber has acquired distribution rights to Rafael Manuel’s feature debut “Filipiñana” after the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it won the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision.
The film will be released theatrically by Kino Lorber later this year, followed by a digital, educational and home video release.
Based on his 2020 short film of the same name, the movie follows a 17-year-old Ilokana from the rural north, who works at a posh country club outside Manila, “lining up golf balls for powerful men to drive into the verdant horizon.” But, the official synopsis reads, “something is rotting beneath the pristine fairways of the elite resort” and “the deeper she journeys into its most exclusive corners, the closer she gets to the violent truths of the club, her native Philippines, and her own past.”
In his positive review for TheWrap, critic Chase Hutchinson called the film “riveting” and “mesmerizing.”
The deal for “Filipiñana” was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Austin Kennedy of Magnify.
“Kino Lorber brought Miguel Gomes’ Tabu and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth to North American audiences. It’s an honor to collaborate with a distributor so deeply committed to bold, international cinema on Filipiñana,” said director Rafael Manuel in a statement.
“Filipiñana is a cinematic miracle,” said Kino Lorber Chairman & CEO Richard Lorber. “I can’t find enough adjectives to praise it for embodying the future of art cinema. It’s an amalgamation of brilliant visual images, sound design, and choreography married with a poignant and potent, yet subtle, political statement. We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce this stunning film to North American audiences.”
Developed and co-financed by Film4, “Filipiñana” is a Potocol, Ossian International, Epicmedia, Easy Riders Films, and Idle Eye production. The film is produced by Jeremy Chua, Alex Polunin, Bianca Balbuena, Bradley Liew, and Rafael Manuel; co-produced by Sam Chua Weishi, Nadia Turincev, and Omar El Kadi; and executive produced by Farhana Bhula for Film4, Jia Zhangke, Anthony C. Isais, Grace Mariel M. Isais, Maria Sophia Atayde-Marudo, Jossette C. Atayde, Sebastian Raeuber, and Francine Raeuber.
The post Kino Lorber Picks Up ‘Filipiñana’ After Sundance Debut appeared first on TheWrap.
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