MANILA, Philippines — The Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) has opened the call for entries for the Philippines’ official nominee to the 99th Academy Awards next year.
The government agency simultaneously also announced it is open to submissions for its new grants program for local films vying for recognition at the Oscars and other prestigious award-giving bodies.
FAP’s Pinoy Oscars Pursuit program will provide government support to the selected entry for the Best International Feature film category and any projects eyeing other Oscar categories, including documentaries and short films.
The agency confirmed to Philstar.com during a press conference held on June 18 in Quezon City that the program will also support selected films in its For Your Consideration promotions across various industry-led honors.
“A win for the Philippines is a win for the industry as a whole,” said FAP’s director-general Paolo Villaluna in a provided statement. “When a Filipino film earns a place on the world stage, the whole country gains.”
Villaluna also shared that a nomination or even being shortlisted can draw investment, raise the value of workers’ labor, and bring global attention to the Philippines as a place to tell stories and make films.
It is worth noting that for the upcoming awards, international films not chosen as their country’s submission are eligible for consideration if they win the following:
- Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival
- Best Film at the Busan Film Festival
- Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival
- World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival
- Platform Award at the Toronto Film Festival
- Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival
Any film that win any of these awards may still apply for FAP’s grants program, as Villaluna stressed the government will aggressively support any Filipino film gunning for Oscars glory.
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Nomination benefits
Villaluna listed during the press conference the economic and national benefits of an Academy Award nomination or even just making an Oscars category shortlist.
He cited the actual economic growth in Mexico after the success of Alfonso Cuaraon’s “Roma,” which saw the country’s audiovisual sector reach $7.3 billion (P442 billion) in total value, supporting over 77,000 jobs.
In Brazil, which bannered “I’m Still Here” and “The Secret Agent” in back-to-back years, audio-visual exports grew to 19% annually while local theater attendance grew by 15% — a jump from the 2% growth in 2023.
The director-general also touched on jetsetting tourism and cultural exports, noting how 53% international travelers reportedly went to Brazil because of the two previously mentioned movies.
South Korea’s capital, Seoul, on the other hand, added the filming sites of Best Picture winner “Parasite” to official tourism promotions. National visitors to the location of the Oscar-winning film increased by 15%.
“A high-profile Oscar lifts a country’s global image, boosting tourism and exports,” wrote the FAP in its segment on soft power. “National pride and global visibility elevate the country’s image, storytelling, talent, and social issues resulting in talent awareness and spotlight.”
Prestige also brings streamer money from investors and co-productions. After the historic win of “Parasite,” analysts projects up to 30% pay rate gains for Korean talent.
The box office “Oscar bump” also cannot be denied. Weekend sales of “Parasite” in the United States after its Oscar wins jumped by 234% en route to around $260 million (P15.7 billion) at the global box office on a 13.5 billion won (P534 million budget).
The South African film “Tsotsi” validated the country’s public firm funding and spurred more local productions after it won the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2006.
Villaluna also shared that Nollywood or Nigerian cinema is the third most valuable film industry in the world after Hollywood in the United States and Bollywood in India.
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Submissions
Directors and producers wishing to put up their movies for consideration as the Philippines’ Oscar entry have until July 31 to submit requirements to the FAP.
A pre-selection committee will evaluate submissions based on their artistic merit, cultural relevance, and capacity to mount and sustain an international campaign.
The agency will announce a seven-film shortlist on August 15 to be deliberated by a National Selection Committee composed of seven individuals within the local film industry.
The latter committee will submit their chosen film to Villaluna who will help announce it as the official entry on September 2, just as Philippine Film Industry Month begins and ahead of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ own deadline at the end of the month.
Last year’s entry by the Philippines was Lav Diaz’s “Magellan,” starring Gael Garcia Bernal, as the Portuguese explorer that encountered Cebu in 1521.
“Magellan” was one of four films that received a total of P40 million in financial support from FAP during the most recent awards campaigning season.
Funds were used for events, agency and entry fees, online promotions, flights and hotels, entry to 50 film festival, and 25 targeted screenings for Academy members.
The other films were the West Philippine Sea documentary “Food Delivery,” Don Eblahan’s short film “Vox Humana,” and the Rachel Alejandro-starrer “Song of the Fireflies” about the Loboc Children’s Choir in Bohol.
“Food Delivery” and “Vox Humana” were being campaigned for nominations in the Oscars’ Documentary Feature and Short Film categories, while “Song of the Fireflies” was vying for a nod in the Golden Globes’ Best Original Song category.
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