The Philippines has officially selected “Filipiñana,” directed by Rafael Manuel, as its submission for the international feature film category at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. The selection was made from a pool of eight competing films, with the winning entry now positioned to advance in the prestigious Oscar race. Distributed by Kino Lorber, the film represents Manuel’s directorial debut.
Richard Lorber, chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber, expressed enthusiasm about the selection, describing the film as a “cinematic miracle” following his initial viewing at the Sundance Film Festival. He emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting the project through its awards campaign and noted that the film has already achieved commercial success in North American theatrical releases. Lorber praised Manuel’s work as representative of innovative filmmaking.
The narrative centers on Isabel, a seventeen-year-old from the Philippine provinces who secures employment at an exclusive golf resort set amid extreme heat and drought conditions. Director Manuel explained that he chose the golf course setting deliberately to examine class disparities within Philippine society. He noted that the sport’s historical connection to American military bases, later appropriated by local elites, serves as a powerful symbol for exploring how the nation’s vast resources are controlled by a privileged minority despite being developed through the labor of many.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
