Several Filipino films representing different facets of the country’s cinema are in the running to become the Philippines’ official submission to the Best International Feature. Film category of the 99th Academy Awards.
THIS year’s contenders for the Philippines’ official entry to the 99th Academy Awards showcase the depth and diversity of Filipino storytelling.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of Film Academy of the Philippines
Eight Filipino films representing different facets of the country’s cinema are in the running to become the Philippines’ official submission to the Best International Feature Film category of the 99th Academy Awards.
The contenders were selected from local submissions and were announced by the Film Academy of the Philippines during its Byaheng Oscars press conference last 18 June. The final entry that will represent the country will be revealed on 4 September.
The films competing for the honor are 58th by Carl Joseph Papa, All the Things I Leave You (Patawid) by Jade Castro, Filipiñana by Rafael Manuel, I’mPerfect by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo, Manila’s Finest by Raymond Red, Quezon by Jerrold Tarog, Silenced Nights by Lawrence Fajardo, and Sisa by Jun Robles Lana.
The selection highlights the range of Filipino storytelling, with entries exploring themes of history, inequality, family, identity, freedom, and resilience.
Among the contenders is Papa’s 58th, an animated documentary that revisits the Maguindanao Massacre through rotoscope animation and archival material. The film follows Reynafe Castillo’s search for recognition of her father, Reynaldo Momay, as the massacre’s 58th victim. It has earned recognition from international festivals, including Rotterdam and Annecy, and received the Facing the Edge Award at Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand.
Castro’s All the Things I Leave You (Patawid) brings an Ilocano-language story about two young men working at a family restaurant who uncover a decades-old romance. The film explores themes of love, class, and migration, earning screenings abroad and a Best Episodic Film award at the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.
Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana takes a sharp look at social divisions through the story of a teenage girl fascinated by the president of an exclusive country club, only to discover the darker realities behind its polished image. The film received international acclaim, including the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Meanwhile, I’mPerfect by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo centers on two young adults with Down syndrome fighting for independence and the freedom to pursue love. The film, which features actors with Down syndrome in lead roles, won Best Picture at the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Historical narratives are also represented through Raymond Red’s Manila’s Finest and Jerrold Tarog’s Quezon. Red’s period crime drama examines corruption in 1969 Manila, while Tarog’s historical epic follows the political journey of Manuel L. Quezon, from his early years to becoming president of the Philippine Commonwealth.
Fajardo’s Silenced Nights tackles contemporary social issues through the story of a laborer who witnesses a police killing, while Lana’s Sisa reimagines the iconic literary figure as a woman involved in the revolutionary movement during the Philippine-American War. The latter also marks Hilda Koronel’s return to the big screen.
The National Selection Committee of the Film Academy of the Philippines will assess the entries based on artistic achievement, cultural significance, and their potential to represent Filipino cinema on the global stage.
The chosen film will carry the country’s hopes at the 99th Academy Awards, continuing the Philippines’ pursuit of international recognition through its diverse cinematic voices.
