The Philippines has officially chosen its film for the 2027 Oscars, and it is Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana, a debut feature that has already made waves on the international film festival circuit.
The film has been selected as the Philippines’ entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. It was chosen from a shortlist of eight films by a National Selection Committee convened by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP). According to the FAP, the committee considered the film’s visual style, examination of class, power and labour, international profile, as well as the producers’ ability to mount an Oscars campaign.
From Sundance to the Oscars
Filipiñana follows Isabel, played by Jorrybel Agoto, a 17-year-old from the rural north of the Philippines who starts working as a tee girl at an exclusive country club outside Manila. What begins as a job placing golf balls for wealthy members gradually leads her into the club’s complicated social world and its hidden history.
The film grew from Manuel’s short film of the same name, which previously received international recognition. Its feature-length version premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. It later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and picked up further recognition at international festivals.
The film has also secured North American distribution through Kino Lorber, which began its theatrical release in the US in August. The distributor has also planned digital and home entertainment releases following its cinema run.
For Manuel, the film offers more than a story set inside a luxurious golf club. The setting becomes a way to explore the Philippines’ social divisions, particularly around class, labour and power.
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What happens next for Filipiñana?
Being selected as the Philippines’ official entry does not automatically mean Filipiñana will receive an Oscar nomination. The film must first make it through the International Feature Film selection process, with the shortlist expected to be announced on 15 December 2026. Oscar nominations are expected to follow on 21 January 2027, ahead of the 99th Academy Awards on 14 March.
The FAP is also supporting the film’s campaign through its “For Your Consideration” activities. Filipiñana is eligible for government funding of up to P25 million for its Oscars campaign, according to Philstar.com. The film’s festival awards, Sundance recognition and North American distribution all contribute to its eligibility under the revamped Pinoy Oscars Pursuit programme.
The Philippines has yet to have a film shortlisted or nominated for Best International Feature Film. With Filipiñana now carrying the country’s submission, Filipino audiences will have another reason to keep an eye on the international awards season as the film continues its Oscars journey.
