Atayde-owned Nathan Studios Tagalizes Korean movie 'Picnic,' taps Fyang Smith and other local artists as dubbers

This Mother’s Day, Nathan Studios delivers a touching cinematic experience with Picnic, a Korean indie gem now transformed into a Filipino-language feature featuring a powerhouse local voice cast.

Originally directed by Kim Yong-gyun and released in South Korea, Picnic has been given a new life by Nathan Studios — known for taking bold creative risks and challenging traditional storytelling norms. Helmed by President and CEO Ria Atayde, the studio has reintroduced the film to Filipino audiences not as a mere dub, but as a heartfelt reinterpretation grounded in Filipino sensibilities.

As always, the studio opts for substance over spectacle. Rather than reveal too much about the storyline, they allow the film’s themes to speak for themselves: aging, intergenerational friendship, family tensions, and the quiet heroism of motherhood — all deeply rooted in Filipino cultural experiences.

Portraying the older Eun-sim is acclaimed actress Ces Quesada, delivering a performance that balances strength and sensitivity. Sharing the spotlight is Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 winner Fyang Smith, whose portrayal of young Eun-sim is already generating buzz for its freshness and emotional punch.

Starring alongside them is screen icon Nova Villa, playing Eun-sim’s childhood best friend Geum-soon. It’s one of Nova’s most heartfelt roles to date, reminding audiences of the enduring ties formed in youth. Completing the main trio is Bodjie Pascua, whose nuanced voice acting brings emotional depth to the elder Tae-ho. His younger version is voiced by JM Ibarra, marking a promising start in voice acting for the rising star and Fyang’s onscreen partner.

The original Picnic starred Korean greats Na Moon-hee, Kim Young-ok, and Park Geun-hyung, and was filmed in the peaceful village of Pyeongsan-ri in South Gyeongsang Province — a setting that mirrors the film’s meditative tone. With a production budget of 1.2 billion KRW (around $911,000), the film exceeded expectations and grossed over $2.2 million, topping South Korea’s independent box office charts and earning critical acclaim for its subtle, poignant storytelling.

Among its accolades is a Baeksang Arts Awards nomination for Park Geun-hyung — an indicator of the film’s quiet strength and emotional weight. These same qualities are carried into the Filipino adaptation, which retains the original story but breathes new life into it through the voices of seasoned and emerging Filipino talents.

Picnic is not a glossy rework; it’s a sensitive, localized tribute to life’s tender complexities — the unspoken feelings between friends, the quiet sacrifices of parents, and the memories that define us. It reflects Nathan Studios’ ongoing mission to bring global stories home in a way that speaks directly to the Filipino heart.

Through this Mother’s Day release, the studio reminds audiences that honoring mothers isn’t just about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about listening, remembering, and finding meaning in life’s smallest moments.

At the premiere night: