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Australian Filipino-language film makes history
With its selection, 'First Light' not only strengthens Australia’s bid at the Oscars but also marks a milestone for Tagalog-language cinema.
A Filipino-language film is making history on the global stage after First Light was selected as Australia’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Directed by James J. Robinson, the film stars Ruby Ruiz as a nun whose faith is shaken after she witnesses the accidental death of a construction worker, setting her on a deeply personal journey of doubt and redemption.
Before earning its Oscar submission, First Light screened at international film festivals in Melbourne, Australia, and Marrakech, Morocco, introducing audiences abroad to its poignant story. The film later returned to the Philippines for a homecoming screening in June, where local viewers had the chance to celebrate its growing international acclaim.
With its selection, First Light not only strengthens Australia’s bid at the Oscars but also marks a milestone for Filipino-language cinema, bringing Filipino storytelling to one of the world’s biggest film stages.