The Film Academy of the Philippines has revealed its shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category—only one will make the cut for Oscar contention.
Preparations for the 98th Academy Awards are already underway here in the Philippines. The past year delivered a wave of critically acclaimed Filipino films that have resonated both locally and internationally. Recently, the Film Academy of the Philippines unveiled its shortlist of contenders for the Best International Feature Film category—an honor that allows just one film to represent the country on one of cinema’s most prestigious global stages.
But before the final pick is made, it’s worth acknowledging that all seven films earned their place on the list. Each one brings something distinct to the table, and while only one will ultimately carry the nation’s banner to the Oscars, the mere existence of a strong slate is a testament to the vitality of the local film industry.
“The selection also highlights diverse cinematic voices with each having the potential for universal appeal,” shares filmmaker Paolo Villaluna—the newly-appointed Film Academy Director-General—in the official statement. “Whichever feature we end up sending to the Oscars will be one of which any Pinoy can be proud [of].”
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Here’s The 2025 Film Academy Of The Philippines Shortlist
Food Delivery (2025)
Director: Baby Ruth Villarama
The documentary Food Delivery unfolds in the volatile waters of the West Philippine Sea, where Filipino fishermen, coast guard, and navy personnel face daily threats—not from nature alone, but from geopolitical forces. Through the eyes of Arnel Satam, a small‑boat fisherman from Subic, and armed forces on RORE (Rotation and Reprovisioning) missions, the film explores the courage and sacrifices behind every supply run to isolated outposts. Despite continuous harassment, including drones monitoring them overhead and Chinese maritime vessels shadowing their routes, they persevere.
Green Bones (2024)
Director: Zig Dulay
Dennis Trillo portrays Domingo “Dom” Zamora, an inmate convicted of murdering his sister and niece, whose impending parole stirs tension. Enter Ruru Madrid’s Xavier Gonzaga—a freshly assigned prison guard haunted by the unsolved death of his own sister. Gonzaga is determined to prevent Zamora’s release, convinced that certain individuals are beyond redemption.
The film draws on the symbolic metaphor of “green bones”: a belief that only a good person’s remains carry a green hue after cremation—and here lies the exploration of whether true goodness can emerge from the darkest of pasts.
Hello, Love, Again (2024)
Director: Cathy Garcia-Sampana
Set five years after their parting in Hello, Love, Goodbye, Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) and Ethan (Alden Richards) unexpectedly cross paths again—this time in Canada. Their reunion comes after years apart, marked by physical separation, a global pandemic, and the personal transformations they each endured.
Joy, now focusing on a career in the healthcare field under the new name “Marie,” has remade herself in a foreign land. Meanwhile, Ethan returns to rebuild his life and rekindle something lost. As they reconnect, the film shows us the challenges of sustaining love from afar while navigating immigrant identity, long-distance sacrifice, and cultural shifts.
Magellan (2025)
Director: Lav Diaz
Lav Diaz’s shortest film to date, Magellan is a stark, incisive examination of history, chronicling the final months of the Portuguese navigator’s life before his death in 1521 on the island of Mactan, Cebu. Rather than portraying the titular figure (played by Gael García Bernal) as a hero, Diaz presents him as a man “facing his own oblivion,” as the director puts it in an interview with the Cannes Film Festival. With socio-political undercurrents running through its narrative, the film strips away myth to expose the unsettling truths buried between the lines of historical accounts. The result is an immersive, meditative journey—one that mirrors Magellan’s own voyage.
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Some Nights I Feel Like Walking (2024)
Director: Petersen Vargas
Some Nights I Feel Like Walking is set against the neon-lit and gritty backdrop of Manila, where marginalized youths carve out fleeting shelters in the night. A group of young male hustlers—including Uno (Jomari Angeles), Bayani (Argel Saycon), Rush (Tomy Alejandrino), and Miguelito (Gold Azeron)—navigate the city’s shadowy corners, turning to sex work to survive.
During this nocturnal routine, Uno encounters Zion, a nervous teenage runaway, and they form an unexpected bond. As they traverse the urban landscape and beyond, their collective odyssey becomes a portrait of loyalty and survival, framed by a bittersweet story of queer identity and chosen family.
Song of the Fireflies (2025)
Director: King Palisoc
A heartfelt musical drama, Song of the Fireflies chronicles the remarkable true story of the Loboc Children’s Choir: an ensemble of young voices from the rural town of Loboc, Bohol. Under the unwavering guidance of their determined teacher, Alma Taldo (portrayed by Morissette), the choir of 9 to 13-year-olds rises from humble beginnings to national and global acclaim. Despite financial limitations, natural disasters, and the distractions of adolescence, Alma’s belief in her students—and the support of cultural advocate Equet Butalid (played by Rachel Alejandro)—fuels their journey toward musical excellence.
Sunshine (2025)
Director: Antoinette Jadaone
Sunshine is one of the most recent entries on this list, yet it has already earned widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences following its theatrical release in late July. It’s a film that many Filipinos need to see—even if not all are ready to—boldly confronting the realities of teen pregnancy in a country where Catholicism heavily shapes notions of morality, autonomy, and reproductive health.
The story centers on a gifted rhythmic gymnast on the verge of making the national team, whose Olympic dreams are abruptly shattered when she discovers she’s pregnant just days before a crucial tryout. Reeling from the news, she sets off on a desperate journey across Manila, particularly around the charged atmosphere of Quiapo Church, where faith and illicit abortion remedies coexist in uneasy tension.
As guilt and fear take hold, she becomes haunted, both literally and figuratively, by the weight of her decision. What unfolds is not just a personal crisis, but a reflection of a much larger truth. Through the intimate lens of one young woman’s struggle, Sunshine tells a collective story, one that lays bare the harsh expectations and limited choices that countless Filipinas continue to face today.
UPDATE, as of September 1, 2025:
The Film Academy of the Philippines announced that Lav Diaz’s Magellan has been selected as the official Philippine submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The selection was announced at the opening of Philippine Film Industry Month celebrations organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) at the Red Carpet Cinema, Shangri-La Plaza. The decision was made by a committee of Filipino film industry experts approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and convened by the Film Academy of the Philippines.
The criteria for selection include aesthetic and technical excellence, embodiment of Filipino value and culture, international appeal, and the capability of the producer to mount an extensive campaign for Academy shorlisting (December 2025) and nomination (February 2026). The Selection Committee chose from seven local strong contenders and ultimately Magellan was chosen to represent the Philippines on the world stage.
“The Film Academy of the Philippines is immensely excited to announce Lav Diaz’s Magellan as our official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards,” shares Paolo Villaluna, Director-General of the Film Academy. “Magellan is a powerful, poetic film and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Director Lav, Producer Paul Soriano, and the entire cast and crew. We recognize that Magellan’s Oscars journey is only just beginning, and we stand ready to support the film. The Film Academy will work closely with them to navigate the intricacies of the Oscars campaign, and will provide government assistance when needed to ensure their vision is shared with the world.”
Photos courtesy of IMDb.
