In a landmark decision that signals the Philippines’ bold ambition on the world stage, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in collaboration with the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), announced on September 1, 2025, that acclaimed filmmaker Lav Diaz’s historical epic “Magellan” will represent the country in the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Revealed via a heartfelt post on the FDCP’s Facebook page during the opening of Philippine Film Industry Month at the Red Carpet Cinema in Shangrila Plaza, Mandaluyong City, the selection marks a pivotal moment for Filipino cinema. To fuel the film’s Oscars campaign, the FDCP is providing P1 million through its Oscars Assistance Program, empowering Diaz and his team, led by producer Paul Soriano, to navigate the competitive awards landscape. This financial support underscores the nation’s commitment to elevating its cinematic voice, with “Magellan” poised to challenge global perceptions of history and identity.
The selection process was rigorous, with “Magellan” emerging victorious over a formidable shortlist of six other Filipino films: “Green Bones,” a gritty exploration of urban despair; “Food Delivery,” a contemporary social satire; “Hello Love Again,” a romantic drama; “Sunshine,” a heartfelt coming-of-age tale; “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking,” a meditative character study; and “Song of the Fireflies,” a poetic family saga. FAP director-general Paolo Villaluna, speaking at the industry month kickoff, outlined the criteria that tipped the scales in Diaz’s favor: artistic and technical excellence, a deep embodiment of Filipino values and culture, a vivid reflection of Philippine society’s complexities, and a universal appeal capable of captivating international audiences.
“Alam natin ang Oscars is a big marketing machine,” Villaluna emphasized. “You have to entice Academy members to watch your film.” He praised “Magellan” as a “powerful, poetic film,” extending congratulations to Diaz, Soriano, and the cast and crew, while pledging sustained government backing to amplify the campaign’s reach.
At its core, “Magellan” is a provocative reimagining of the colonial encounter between East and West, centered on Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer portrayed with raw intensity by Mexican actor Gael García Bernal. Sponsored by the Spanish crown, Magellan set sail in the early 1500s to seek riches in the Far East, only to meet his demise on April 27, 1521, at the Battle of Mactan, where he was killed by warriors allegedly led by the revered chieftain Lapulapu.
Diaz, a luminary of slow cinema known for sprawling works like the 11-hour “Death in the Land of Encantos” and the four-hour “Norte, the End of History,” subverts this narrative with a daring thesis: that Lapulapu was a myth crafted by a rival monarch from a neighboring island to consolidate power. This revisionist lens, combined with the story of Filipinos enslaved in Malacca and coerced into Magellan’s service, transforms the film into a searing post-colonial critique. It dismantles romanticized colonial narratives, exposing the exploitation and cultural erasure beneath, while portraying Magellan not as a heroic conqueror but as a man “facing his own oblivion,” wrestling with ambition and mortality.
Shot across evocative locations in the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain, “Magellan” blends Diaz’s signature contemplative style with breathtaking visuals, earning accolades at its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. Variety lauded it as a “stunningly mounted, politically rigorous work,” praising its ability to weave historical introspection with poetic depth. The film’s Filipino cast, including Arjay Babon, Ronnie Lazaro, Bong Cabrera, and Hazel Orencio, complements Bernal’s nuanced performance, grounding the story in authentic emotional resonance.
Magellan’s festival journey continues with screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and Cinéfest Sudbury, building momentum ahead of its Philippine theatrical release on September 10. Luxbox Films handles world sales, while Janus Films secured North American distribution, and Cinetic Marketing, the powerhouse behind Oscar campaigns for “Parasite” and “Drive My Car,” is steering the awards push, signaling high expectations for its global impact.
Diaz’s selection is a milestone for the Philippines, which has submitted films to the Oscars since 1953 without securing a nomination. “Magellan” builds on the legacy of prior entries like Brillante Mendoza’s “Thy Womb” and Erik Matti’s “On the Job,” but its international pedigree and Diaz’s auteur status—bolstered by awards like the 2016 Venice Golden Lion for “The Woman Who Left”—position it as a frontrunner. The film’s themes of resistance and identity resonate with contemporary Filipino discourse, reflecting a nation grappling with its colonial past and economic present, as seen in Diaz’s earlier works like “From What Is Before,” which won the 2014 Locarno Golden Leopard. Its narrative also aligns with global conversations about decolonization, making it a timely contender for Academy voters.
The Oscars timeline adds urgency to the campaign: shortlists will be announced on December 16, 2025, nominees on January 22, 2026, and the ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026. Diaz’s meticulous craft, honed through decades of exploring national trauma in films like “A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery,” meets the moment with “Magellan,” a work that challenges historical myths while celebrating Filipino resilience. As the Philippines rallies behind this cinematic triumph, “Magellan” stands as a testament to Diaz’s vision and the country’s determination to claim its place in Oscar history, inviting the world to witness a story that redefines the legacy of conquest through a profoundly human lens.
— With reports from Agence France-Presse and MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News
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