‘Quezon,’ 'Filipiñana,' six others compete to represent PH at Oscars

Eight films are in the running to become the Philippines’ official entry to the 2027 Oscars, with the final selection set to be announced on September 4.

In a press release issued Friday, Aug. 28, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) announced the shortlist for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category: “58th,” “All the Things I Leave You (Patawid),” “Filipiñana,” “I’mPerfect,” “Manila’s Finest,” “Quezon,” “Silenced Nights” and “Sisa.”

The movies represent a broad range of Filipino stories, touching on history, identity, relationships, social issues and contemporary life. Several have also earned recognition at major international festivals, while others have made an impact through local awards and critical acclaim.

Directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa, “58th” has screened at several international festivals, including Rotterdam and Annecy. It also received the Facing the Edge Award at New Zealand’s Doc Edge Festival.

Jade Castro’s “All the Things I Leave You (Patawid)” is an Ilocano-language boys’ love (BL) film that has also reached audiences outside the Philippines. It premiered at NewFest in New York and was later screened in India and Argentina. Its festival run also included a Best Episodic Film win at the 37th Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.

Meanwhile, Rafael Manuel’s “Filipiñana” recently opened in Philippine cinemas after making its way through the international festival circuit. The film is an international co-production between the Philippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands. It received critical praise from The New Yorker, ScreenDaily and Vulture and won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Also on the shortlist is Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s “I’mPerfect,” which centers on a couple with Down syndrome. The drama won Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Ensemble at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in December 2025. It was also featured in a special screening at the 27th Lucania Film Festival in Italy.

Raymond Red’s “Manila’s Finest” looks back at a turbulent period in Philippine history, with its story set shortly before the First Quarter Storm. The film earned several awards at the 51st MMFF, including Best Cinematography, and later had its international premiere at the 25th New York Asian Film Festival.

Jerrold Tarog’s “Quezon” is the third film in the director’s “Bayaniverse” franchise and stars Jericho Rosales as Manuel L. Quezon. The historical drama recently won Best Picture at the 9th Entertainment Editors’ Choice Awards, while Tarog and Rosales received Best Director and Best Actor honors, respectively.

Inspired by the 2017 killing of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos during the Philippine anti-drug campaign, Lawrence Fajardo’s “Silenced Nights” explores a politically charged chapter in recent Philippine history. The sociopolitical thriller received critical acclaim at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and made history as the first Filipino film selected for TIFF’s Platform Programme, an Oscar-qualifying section of the festival.

Rounding out the shortlist is Jun Robles Lana’s “Sisa,” which marks veteran actress Hilda Koronel’s return to film. Koronel plays a woman believed to be mentally unstable who secretly works as a spy for Filipino revolutionaries during the Philippine-American War. The historical thriller premiered in the competitive section of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival before winning Best Screenplay in the Director’s Week section of the 46th Fantasporto International Film Festival.

The eight films will be evaluated by a National Selection Committee organized by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP). The committee is made up of Filipino film industry experts approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and will assess the films based on artistic merit, cultural relevance and their potential for an international campaign.

FAP Director-General Paolo Villaluna said in a statement that the shortlist reflects the range of stories and perspectives found in Filipino cinema.

“They look at our history, the issues we continue to face, and the ways Filipinos deal with questions of power, identity, love, freedom, and survival,” Villaluna said.

He added that each contender has “its own voice and approach,” while highlighting the potential of the films to reach audiences beyond the Philippines.

“Whichever film we send to the Oscars will carry a Filipino story that we can be proud of,” he added.

The country’s official Oscar entry will be named on Sept. 4 during the opening ceremony of Philippine Film Industry Month.