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Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino invited to Oscars voting body

Entertainment | Movies and TV

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino invited to Oscars voting body

By Carissa Alcantara

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino (IMDB)

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino (IMDB)

Filipino filmmaker Arvin Belarmino has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization behind the Oscars, marking another milestone for Philippine cinema on the global stage.

Belarmino is among 529 artists and executives invited by the Academy this year and was selected under the Short Films branch, placing him among the film professionals eligible to vote for future Academy Awards.

The invitation comes amid growing international recognition for Belarmino's work. His short film “Agapito,” co-directed with Kyla Danelle Romero, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 before earning an honorable mention at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Academy cited Belarmino's films “Agapito” and “Hinakdal” in announcing its latest class of invitees. “Hinakdal” won Best Screenplay, the Audience Award and the NETPAC Award at the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Belarmino joins a growing roster of Filipinos welcomed into the Academy in recent years, including actress Dolly de Leon, documentary filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, and acclaimed directors Brillante Mendoza and Lav Diaz.

The Academy's membership process is by invitation only, with members responsible for voting on the Oscars. This year's class includes actors Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, Simu Liu, Jon Bernthal and Julia Garner, as well as filmmakers Zach Cregger and the Safdie brothers.

According to AMPAS, the 2026 invitees include artists and executives from 60 countries and territories, reflecting the Academy's continuing efforts to broaden its international membership.

Related Tags

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Arvin Belarmino Short Film Branch Agapito Hinakdal

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