OBRA
Glowing reviews for Nathan Studios’ co-produced film ‘Renoir’ in Cannes
10:57 p.m. May 20, 2025
International collaboration gives hope to the Philippine film industry in its efforts to enter the world market.
This was true again after Japanese art film “Renoir”, co-produced by Nathan Studios, officially became a part of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
“Renoir” is a collaboration among Japan’s Happinet Studios, France’s Ici et Là Productions, Singapore’s Akanga Film Asia, Indonesia’s Kawan Kawan Media, and the Philippines’ Daluyong Studio and Nathan Studios. The international sales are being handled by Goodfellas.
Filipino actress and producer Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde, the chief executive of Nathan Studios, said she is grateful for having co-produced the film as it led to the company getting a chance to foster international partnerships and broaden its international market, aside from achieving another red-carpet appearance in the Cannes Film Festival at the city of Cannes, France.
“This international collaboration creates a massive positive impact to the Filipino film industry, it also gives a lot of hope to Filipino film producers to go to the global market, especially here in Cannes,” Sanchez-Atayde said.
“Malaking impact ito, the mere fact na three years pa lang kami nagpupunta sa Cannes as a producer, isa na kami sa nakapag-partnership sa international productions at nakapag-red carpet muli dito sa Cannes,” she added. “I am hoping for more Filipino film producers to enter the global stage whether it is solo or collaborations, with other foreign producers.”
Two of Nathan Studios’ earlier movies — the psychological thriller Cattleya Killer in 2022 and action flick Topakk in 2023 — also premiered in the Cannes Film Festivals, starred both by veteran actor and Quezon City first district reelected Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde. The movies gained the attention of international film buyers, film aficionados, and distributors for the last three years.
Sanchez-Atayde, who celebrated her birthday in the European country, also said she is “ecstatic” that the “Renoir” film is part of the main competition in Cannes.
“I’m still in disbelief and absolutely ecstatic that Renoir (directed by Chie Hayakawa, and co-produced with Eiko Mizuno Gray and Jason Gray, Christophe Bruncher, Yulia Evina Bhara, and Alemberg Ang) was selected as part of the 2025 Cannes’ competition slate,” Sanchez explained.
“When we were starting out with Nathan Studios, this was only something we dreamt of and aimed for—and now, it is finally here. All the hard work, determination, belief, and prayers finally bore fruit!” she added.
“Renoir” is a coming-of-age drama that depicts a daughter coping with the illness of her father is making waves at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and has the potential of winning the highly coveted Palme d’Or or grand prize.
“Renoir,” directed by noted Japanese auteur Chie Hayakawa (Plan 75), tells the story of Fuki, whose father is fighting a terminal illness, and mother is stressed out from caring for him. She later becomes fascinated with telepathy and leads herself into her own fantasy world.
The film, which will be released in Japan on June 20, stars newcomer Yui Suzuki as the 11-year-old Fuki, alongside Hikari Ishida and Lily Franky.
‘Glowing reviews’
Reviews for the film are glowing, with Deadline’s Stephanie Bunbury noting that while the film is scattered, it does not “detract from the film’s beauty or the strength of the performances,”
“If this story doesn’t coalesce as seamlessly as her first film does, it still has the power to touch and then to haunt us. It does not take a fortune teller to predict that Chie Hayakawa soon will make her masterpiece,” Bunbury noted in her review.
Writing for Variety, Jessica Kiang said that Hayakawa’s film is a “slender but appealingly impressionistic story of an inquisitive young girl’s summer of life, death and amateur parapsychology,”
““Renoir” is a more diffused yet in some ways more interesting sophomore feature, that follows where its lovely, mercurial central character leads and, taking a cue from the painter of the (rather tangential) title, lets the brushstrokes show to deliver a firsthand impression of growing up in 1980s Japan,” Kiang added.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Lovia Gyarkye, on the other hand, said the movie is a “poetic meditation” on a crucial summer of Fuki as she navigated her father’s battle with cancer, her mother’s ambient stress and persistent loneliness.
“Part of the reason Renoir, despite its modesty, hits emotionally of Suzuki’s compelling performance. The newcomer has a wide-eyed, penetrating stare that at once communicates the reality of Fuki’s innocence and the depth of her curiosity. In the actress’ hands, the character becomes someone you come to feel deeply protective of, ” Gyarkye noted.
OBRA
Where art meets innovation: TCL unveils A400 Series Lifestyle TV for modern Filipino homes
8:11 a.m. June 14, 2026
For those seeking a television that seamlessly complements an artful aesthetic, TCL Electronics has delivered the ultimate solution. As the No. 1 Panel TV brand in the Philippines and a global leader in both televisions and air conditioners, TCL finally introduces the TCL A400 Series.
Designed for modern Filipino homes, this premium lifestyle TV masterfully blends elegant, gallery-like aesthetics with deeply immersive entertainment.
True to its design-centric philosophy, the TCL A400 Series perfectly complements an artful home. Modern televisions are no longer just about entertainment; they are vital to a household’s overall lifestyle and aesthetic. With the A400 Series, TCL completely redefines the role of a television in the modern living space.
“Once again, TCL elevates home entertainment and viewing pleasure with the introduction of the A400 Series. Every detail is meticulously engineered to enhance your home display while delivering an indulgent sensory experience. We know how excited you are for this, so we’re thrilled to finally share it with you!” says Maxi Chen, TCL Senior Product Manager of Brownline.
Beyond Screen, Beyond Imagination
If the idea of owning a design-forward art TV inspires you, the A400 Series, namely A400M and the A400 Pro, are both built to exceed your highest expectations. Prepare to immerse yourself in an entirely new standard of home entertainment. Both models share the same key selling points, including the Ultra Slim Design, QD-Mini LED technology, Art Gallery Mode, and ONKYO 2.0 Hi-Fi Sound System.
For a true art-gallery feel, the A400 Pro is equipped with an anti-reflection Matte HVA Panel that eliminates distracting glare. In contrast, the A400M features a traditional, high-contrast HVA Panel.
Both TVs double as a digital canvas when not in use. It effortlessly converts any room into a personal gallery, pre-loaded with hundreds of iconic artworks spanning centuries of art history.
The TCL A400 Series has more than 100,000 pre-generated Al artworks from classical style to impressionism. Just tap on the style and theme, and you get to personalize your screen to your style in seconds.
When it comes to color performance, TCL QLED technology utilizes advanced Quantum Dot materials integrated across multiple layers. By incorporating a high light-transmittance film, the system improves optical efficiency and delivers a 10% energy saving for the entire machine. Paired with precision backlighting, this innovation renders more than a billion hues of exceptionally vivid colors. The enhanced brightness illuminates subtle details, offering an immersive, lifelike viewing experience that effortlessly unveils hidden nuances in every frame.
Ready for a truly smart TV? The TCL A400 Series is packed with next-generation AI, built right from the ground up. Powered by TCL’s own quantum supercomputing platform and the advanced Mariana database, this TV actually learns and evolves over time. Thanks to built-in intelligent agents, it automatically optimizes your entertainment across four game-changing pillars: AI picture, AI sound, smart interaction, and AI-driven content creation. It’s not just a screen—it’s a smarter way to watch.
At the heart of the A400 Series is the TSR AiPQ Processor, a highly intelligent chip engineered with powerful AI capabilities. By integrating TCL’s proprietary image-tuning algorithms with advanced intelligent perception, the processor delivers precise, pixel-level optimization for all visuals. Working in tandem with the TCL AI model, it ensures that every frame bursts with vibrant dynamism, layered depth, and natural clarity for true-to-life realism.
For a superior audio experience, the TCL A400 Series features a built-in ONKYO Hi-Fi System. As a global leader in high-end audio with over 80 years of home theater expertise, ONKYO has defined world home theater standards seven times. This premium audio integration ensures the A400 Series delivers an unmatched, deeply immersive acoustic performance for any home setup.
Elevate your living space with the sophisticated elegance of the all-new TCL A400 Series. The latest premium lifestyle television is now available at all authorized TCL dealers nationwide.
The A400M TV with black frame is exclusively available at Abenson with the A400 Pro with a wooden frame is exclusively available at SM Appliances. For more details on the TCL A400 Series, log on to www.tcl.com.
OBRA
Freedom to experience: Redefining what it means to live VIP
9:21 p.m. June 12, 2026
Every June, Filipinos celebrate freedom; not only as a part of our nation’s history, but as a reminder of the opportunities, possibilities, and experiences available to us today.
At BingoPlus VIP Club, freedom means more than just the ability to choose. It means having the opportunity to experience more, explore more, and celebrate life’s milestones in extraordinary ways.
Over the past months, BingoPlus VIP Club has continued to create experiences that go beyond traditional rewards. From exclusive celebrations and luxury travel opportunities to unforgettable events, VIP Club has been focused on delivering moments that members can truly remember.
Recently, the very first BMW winner was recognized during the exclusive BingoPlus Night Gala, marking a major milestone in the VIP Club’s ongoing commitment to rewarding and celebrating its members. It was more than just an awarding of a luxury vehicle; it was a reflection of how experiences can transform ordinary moments into lifelong memories.
This spirit of freedom is also reflected in the VIP Club’s growing portfolio of experiences. Whether it’s a luxury getaway, a private celebration, a premium event, or exclusive access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, BingoPlus VIP Club continues to expand what it means to be recognized beyond the game.
As the Club prepares for an exciting new chapter this July, members can look forward to a refreshed experience built around a simple but powerful belief:
Freedom is not simply about where you can go.
It’s about how far you can elevate.
This Independence Day, we celebrate the freedom to experience more, connect more, and create unforgettable moments together.
Because true luxury isn’t just about what you have.
It’s about the experiences that stay with you long after the moment has passed.
Welcome to the journey.
Welcome to the future of VIP.
Welcome to the New Nobility.
OBRA
How one man’s fight for survival shaped Asia’s largest dialysis network
5:12 p.m. May 31, 2026
Behind Asia’s largest dialysis network lies not a conventional corporate blueprint, but a deeply human advocacy born from a young man’s fight for survival.
NephroPlus, which continues to expand its footprint across the Philippines, is driven by a simple yet powerful belief: people on dialysis deserve to lead long, happy, productive lives – with dialysis remaining just a small part of their journey.
At the heart of this multi-national mission is Kamal D. Shah, co-founder of NephroPlus and a patient since the age of 21. For Kamal, the business of healthcare is deeply personal – he has been a dialysis patient himself for nearly three decades.
A Dream Interrupted
In 1997, Shah’s life was unfolding precisely as he envisioned. Having just secured a student visa to pursue a master’s degree in the United States, he felt the world opening its doors to his ambitions.
But on the cusp of departure, a sudden medical emergency derailed his plans. Doctors diagnosed him with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) – a rare, life-threatening genetic disease affecting only two to three million people worldwide.
“How could a young man preparing for graduate school in America suddenly be fighting for survival?” Kamal recalled, describing his harrowing first dialysis session. “Fear overtook me as my blood circulated through the machine.”
What followed was exhausting medical interventions: regular hemodialysis, plasma exchanges, steroid treatments, and blood transfusions. A temporary recovery was cut short by a severe lung infection, forcing his family to briefly explore alternative therapies in sheer desperation.
In November 1998, a kidney transplant using his mother as a donor offered a beacon of hope. However, fate intervened again when -his primary disease recurred in the transplanted kidney as well, sending him back to square one.
The Refusal to be Passive
Faced with a lifetime of treatment, Shah made a pivotal choice: “I have the will to win.”
He refused to remain a passive bystander in his own healthcare.
In 1999, he discovered Peritoneal Dialysis (PD), a home-based treatment option that was exceptionally rare in India at the time. Under the care of a supportive nephrologist, the transition allowed him to regain his energy, put on weight, and successfully return to the workforce as a young professional.
Years later, while on a beach vacation with colleagues in 2004, Kamal survived a devastating tsunami that flooded his room to neck level. While he escaped with his life, the seawater severely infected his PD catheter site, forcing a grueling return to hospital-based hemodialysis.
The physical and mental drain of standard hospital rotations led Shah to look for alternative solutions. He searched medical reports, watched international demonstrations, and worked closely with clinical staff to pioneer daily home hemodialysis, demanding a life lived with dignity, choice, and knowledge.
Redefining Kidney Care in the Philippines
Through his dual lens as a patient and an acute observer of clinical gaps, Shah realized that renal care needed a global overhaul. Patients deserved more than clinical routine; they deserved better holistic outcomes, stringent quality controls, and empathy.
This conviction laid the cornerstone for NephroPlus.
“We want our guests to get their lives back,” says Shah. “People on dialysis can live normal, long lives, provided they receive good-quality care.”
Today, NephroPlus has evolved into Asia’s largest dialysis network, partnering with local communities to bring world-class, empathetic dialysisl care directly to Filipino patients. At the heart of this mission is a shift from treating patients to welcoming guests. This philosophy honors the lived experience of its co-founder, proving that chronic illness does not mean a life on hold – and championing a better quality of life across geographies.
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