Lav Diaz’s Latest Film ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ Secures International Sales Deal with Heretic

Lav Diaz’s highly anticipated film, ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ (Makikiraan Po), has secured a significant sales deal with the Greek international sales firm Heretic. This partnership marks a pivotal moment for the film, which is currently showcasing at the Venice Film Festival in the Out of Competition section.

Directed by the acclaimed Filipino auteur Lav Diaz, ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ is a historical drama that delves into the brutal subjugation of the Philippines by Spain during the 17th century. The film’s synopsis reads: ‘Spain forcibly transformed the Philippines through sexual violence, exploitation, and religious conversion. Thousands of natives died building 17th-century churches, whose grand architecture stands as monuments to colonization’s brutality.’

The film, which boasts a runtime of 2 hours and 31 minutes, is produced by Bianca Balbuena (Epicmedia Productions Inc) and Montgomery Blencowe (C’est Lovi Productions), with Bradley Liew, Lovi Poe, and Louis Wei serving as executive producers. This marks the latest collaboration between Epicmedia and Diaz, who have previously worked together on several notable projects, including ‘A Lullaby To The Sorrowful Mystery’, ‘Season Of The Devil’, ‘When The Waves Are Gone’, and ‘Essential Truths of The Lake.’

Epicmedia, one of the leading arthouse producers in the Philippines, has a proven track record of producing critically acclaimed films that resonate with global audiences. Their credits include ‘Filipiñana’, which premiered at Sundance and Berlin, ‘Viet and Nam’, which launched at Cannes, and ‘In My Mother’s Skin’, which played at Sundance and was sold to Amazon. This partnership with Heretic further solidifies Epicmedia’s position as a prominent player in the international film industry.

Ioanna Stais, Head of Sales & Acquisitions for Heretic, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating: ‘We feel incredibly fortunate to be working with Lav Diaz for the first time, a filmmaker whose singular vision and uncompromising body of work we have admired for many years. To be entrusted with bringing his new film to the international market, alongside the brilliant team at Epicmedia, is a real privilege for Heretic.’

Bianca Balbuena of Epicmedia Productions Inc echoed Ioanna’s sentiments, saying: ‘We are extremely excited to work with Heretic for the first time, especially on a very special project with Lav Diaz. Their energy is so positive! We admire their auteur-driven slate and how they champion unconventional voices. We hope that this becomes a highly fruitful partnership.’

The partnership between Heretic and Epicmedia is set to bring ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ to a wider international audience, providing a platform for the film’s powerful message to resonate with viewers worldwide.

Key Facts:

• ‘Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors’ is a historical drama directed by Lav Diaz and produced by Epicmedia Productions Inc and C’est Lovi Productions.
• The film is set in 17th-century Philippines and explores the brutal subjugation of the country by Spain.
• The film has secured a sales deal with Heretic, a Greek international sales firm.
• Epicmedia has a proven track record of producing critically acclaimed films that resonate with global audiences.