CANNES — Actress-producer Sylvia Sanchez is raising the Philippine flag at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival with “Renoir,” a coming-of-age drama.

 

For Sanchez, collaboration was key in coming up with a masterpiece that pooled together the artistic ingenuity of a multinational cast and production.

 

“Magtulungan, hindi maghilahan,” was how the veteran actress-comedian described her  “Renoir” journey as founder of Nathan Studios.

 

The tale, set in 1980s Japan, focused on the escapism and make-believe life of a young girl torn by the huge responsibility of caring for a father dying from cancer while getting lost in her own world of amateur parapsychology.

 

Directed by Japanese filmmaker Chie Hayakawa, the film is a collaboration between Japan, France, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines under Nathan Studios and Daluyong Studios.

 

Another Filipino talent, Alemberg Ang, co-produced the film with Sanchez and is proud to be part of the prestigious festival. 

After walking the red carpet at the Cannes, Ang is looking forward to similar projects with other creative geniuses, saying “looking forward to more collaborations in the future!”

Set in 1980s Tokyo, Renoir stars Yui Suzuki as a young girl coping with her father’s terminal illness through an imaginative inner world. The film had its world premiere on Saturday,  May 17, at Cannes and is set for release in Japan on June 20.

 

This year’s main competition jury is led by Juliette Binoche, joined by Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong, and other international luminaries.

 

The Renoir was given a standing ovation at the Festival de Cannes which saw Sanchez and Ang proudly wearing the terno and Philippine barong, respectively.