MANILA, PHILIPPINES – In an auspicious development for Philippine cinema, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), with the unwavering support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), has officially submitted Lav Diaz’s Magellan as the nation’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The announcement was made by FAP Director-General Paolo Villaluna during the opening ceremony of the Philippine Film Industry Month 2025, marking the beginning of the film’s journey toward Oscar consideration.
The decision to select Magellan emerged from among seven contenders, including titles such as Sunshine, Green Bones, Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, Hello, Love, Again, and Song of the Fireflies.
Magellan is a sweeping historical drama that chronicles the arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippine archipelago, portrayed by Gael García Bernal. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 and is set to be released in Philippine cinemas on September 10, 2025.
Lav Diaz is one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary world cinema, renowned for his meditative, socially resonant films that often stretch beyond conventional runtimes. A pioneering figure in slow cinema, Diaz has earned international recognition with awards from Venice, Berlin, and Locarno for works such as From What Is Before and The Woman Who Left. His films consistently grapple with the Philippines’ colonial history, political struggles, and collective memory.
To strengthen the Oscars campaign, the FDCP is extending a ₱1 million grant to Diaz and his team through its Oscars Assistance Program.
