Photos from Facebook/@filmacadph
MANILA – The Film Academy of the Philippines has selected Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana as the country’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, while backing two other Filipino productions seeking consideration in separate Oscar categories.
Carl Joseph Papa’s animated documentary 58th is pursuing Best Documentary Feature Film, while Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero’s Agapito is seeking consideration for Best Live Action Short Film.
The distinction is important. Filipiñana is the Philippines’ official selection under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ country-submission process for International Feature Film. Documentary Feature and Live Action Short follow separate eligibility and submission rules.
Written and directed by Manuel, Filipiñana follows Isabel, a 17-year-old tee girl at an exclusive country club outside Manila. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. It later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival.
Papa’s 58th revisits the 2009 Maguindanao massacre through Reynafe Castillo’s effort to secure recognition for her father, photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, as the massacre’s 58th victim. His remains have not been recovered. The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and later competed in Annecy’s Contrechamp section.
Agapito, a 15-minute live-action short set in an aging duckpin bowling alley, competed in the official Short Film Competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Academy’s submission deadlines are Sept. 30 for International Feature, Oct. 8 for Live Action Short and Oct. 15 for Documentary Feature. Oscar shortlists are due Dec. 15, with nominations on Jan. 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards will be held March 14, 2027.
FAP support or country selection does not constitute an Oscar nomination.
