Philippines picks ‘Filipiñana’ as Oscars 2027 entry
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will enter Rafael Manuel’s “Filipiñana” as its official entry to the 2027 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
The Film Academy of the Philippines revealed the decision of an official National Collection Committee to select members of the media, including Philstar.com, on Sunday, September 13.
The agency will provide government support to “Filipiñana,” as well as any other Oscar categories it may vie for like Cinematography and Production Design during its For Your Consideration promotions across various industry-led honors.
Other films shortlisted by the agency were “58th,” “All the Things I Leave You (Patawid),” “I’mPerfect,” “Manila’s Finest,” “Quezon,” “Silenced Nights,” and “Sisa.”
“58th” will still receive Academy support, as well as Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero’s “Agapito” for Oscars contention in the Documentary and Live Action Short Film categories.
Other contenders
Tagalog-language films are also vying for nominations in the Academy Awards after Australia submitted “First Light,” starring Ruby Ruiz as its entry.
In the entire history of the Academy Awards, no film from the Philippines has been nominated or even made the shortlist for the International Feature Film category.
Past Philippine submissions were “Decade ’70,” “Anak,” “Heneral Luna,” “And Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank,” “Birdshot,” “On the Job: The Missing 8,” and last year’s “Magellan,” which arguably came the closest to making the first cut.
“Filipiñana,” based on Manuel’s award-winning short film of the same name, follows Isabel (Jorrybel Agoto) who is a new tee girl at the country club owned by Terry Guzman’s Dr. Palanca, whom she finds strangely drawn to.
Set over the course of a single day, Isabel slowly unearths a shared history between them from what was supposed to be just an initial curiosity.
Elsewhere in the country club, member Renato (Carlos Siguion-Reyna) is trying to convince his niece Clara (Carmen Castellanos) over a long game of golf to stay in the Philippines and play a major role in the family business.
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