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New Film Academy of the Philippines to boost PH presence at the Oscars
Entertainment
New Film Academy of the Philippines to boost PH presence at the Oscars
New Film Academy of the Philippines to boost PH presence at the Oscars
Published Dec 14, 2025 11:04 pm
For the first time, the Philippine government will help fund the campaign for the country's Oscar entry through the revitalized Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), now led by newly appointed Director-General Paolo Villaluna.
Newly-appointed Film Academy of the Philippines Director-General Paolo Villaluna.
"I am glad that for the first time, the national government will support the Philippines' Oscar film for the campaign," said Paolo during an interview at the launch of the new FAP in Quezon City. "Dati meron naman like P1 million pero alam na hindi yun kasya sa campaign. (There used to be something like P1 million, but we know that it's not enough for the campaign.)"
Paolo cited how other foreign governments spent on Oscar campaigns for their entries. "Anora spent $18 million, India spent a billion pesos. Of course hindi naman ganun kalaki ang pwede natin isuporta (Of course, we can't support that much). I cannot divulge the amount, but it is substantial. It's not wow, but enough for a decent campaign."
The Philippine entry to the 2026 Academy Awards is "Magellan," which is directed by Lav Diaz. "I am happy to announce that for the first time, nasa Top 15 tayo ng Variety list. (We are in the Top 15 of the Variety list.) And that's good. So on Dec. 16, we're crossing our fingers."
Since the announcement of "Magellan" as the Philippines’ entry to the Best International Feature category, director Lav and lead actor Gael García Bernal have been actively campaigning for Academy votes in the US, Asia, and Europe.
In a Nov. 6 article in Variety, Magellan was placed among the Top 15 contenders for Best International Feature Film, and the Oscar prediction site Gold Derby currently ranks it 12th.
On Dec. 5, The New Yorker’s Justin Chang listed Magellan among his honorable mentions for the year’s best films. On Dec. 9, The Film Stage further highlighted Magellan in its feature on “The Best Cinematography of 2025,” praising the work of its cinematographer, Artur Tort.
Asked if he had seen "Magellan," Paolo said," Yes! I've seen it. I love the film. Apart from the fact that I am a big Lav Diaz fan, it's actually a very beautiful film. People think na mabagal ang Lav Diaz movie (People think that a Lav Diaz movie is slow), but it's a part of the poetry of that film. The thing is, you go there, sit there, and start to absorb the film."
On Dec. 16 (Dec. 17 Manila time), the shortlist of 15 films competing for the 2026 Best International Feature Film Oscar nomination will be revealed. A total of 86 countries are eligible to advance, according to US reports.
As the US awards season starts, the FAP is also supporting other Filipino films vying for the Academy Awards Best Live Action Short Film (Vox Humana); Best Documentary (Food Delivery); and for the Golden Globe Awards’ Best Song category, Morissette’s “Alitaptap” from Song of the Fireflies.
“This year will be the first in our steady journey towards acclaim for Filipino film at the Oscars and other big-ticket industry awards,” said Paolo. “We have many beautiful, internationally-acclaimed films made by Filipinos that the Oscars have overlooked, and by offering substantial government support to deserving filmmakers, we can enhance their means to do intensive campaigning to reach more Academy voters, which is a necessity for getting the elusive Oscar nod.”
The official film poster of 'Magellan'
Food Delivery, directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, documents the struggles in the West Philippine Sea and is holding screenings in the US, Taiwan, and London to build visibility and support in the Best Documentary category.
Vox Humana, a short film by Don Eblahan, has already won in two Oscar-qualifying festivals, making it eligible for the Academy’s Best Live Action Short Film category; its filmmakers are now working to build support in the US to secure a spot on the shortlist.
The Philippines has submitted an entry to the Oscars beginning in 1953, but has never been nominated in any category.
Going back to the cinema
Paolo also painted a picture of the country's theatrical landscape, lamenting that the vibrant Filipino audience has yet to reclaim the glow of theater seats. The once-bustling halls now stand in hushed anticipation, waiting for the day when the audience will once again fill them with life and energy.
"Our theatre is not the healthiest. Ang audience natin hindi pa talaga buma balik sa sinehan since the pandemic. However, I say this with confidence: I don't know if you noticed, but every week there are Pinoy films in the theaters. Ang paggawa ng pelikula is healthy. Ang kailangan natin palakasin is yung pagpasok ng audience sa mga sinehan. (Our audience has not really returned to the cinema since the pandemic. However, I say this with confidence: I don't know if you've noticed, but every week there are Pinoy films in theaters. Filmmaking is healthy. What we need to strengthen is the audience's entry into the cinemas)," he said.
FAP: Year One
Strengthened by Executive Order No. 70s, 2024, the revamped FAP announced its role as the country’s agency for the professionalization of film workers, training, awards, and worker protection.
“The Academy is tasked to professionalize the Philippines’ film and audio-visual industry workforce, recognize excellence, and provide sustained support through education, training, and industry assistance,” said newly appointed Director-General Paolo Villaluna. “It is an institution for workers, guilds, and independent practitioners.
“Many of us on the team have worked in the industry and are part of the community,” he said. “Our job is to make sure that the people who create Philippine cinema, who make the industry work, have the protection, recognition, and support they need to build viable, long working lives in this field.”
The Academy’s work is organized around three core mandates:
* Professionalization and worker rights – creating programs of capacity-building and assistance geared toward the professionalization and welfare of film and audio-visual workers, and guiding and supporting representative industry guilds. This includes guild accreditation and support, a national skilled workers database, worker policies, and inter-agency coordination.
* Excellence recognition and international award support – giving due recognition to outstanding cinematic achievements and serving as the authorized agency that oversees the selection and support of the official Philippine entry to the Academy Awards and other major international, industry-led awards.
* Upskilling, workshops, training, and industry support – maintaining educational programs, scholarships, grants, and other forms of assistance so that qualified and deserving workers and groups with exceptional talent and ability in the film arts can access further development.
These mandates are implemented through the Academy’s Film Worker Development, Training and Protection Program (FWDTPP)—which covers guild recognition and support, legal services through Sine-Sandigan, and craft and behavioral workshops—and the Film Awards and Recognition (FAR) program, which oversees Oscar selection and international awards strategy (Pinoy Oscar Pursuit) as well as the Luna Awards and incentives for global winners (Silver Screen Success).