Philippines selects ‘Filipiñana’ for 99th Academy Awards

Rafael Manuel’s debut feature, ‘Filipiñana,’ has been selected as the Philippines’ official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The selection was made by a committee of Filipino film industry experts convened by the Film Academy of the Philippines after reviewing eight competing films.

Set at an upscale golf resort, the film follows 17-year-old Isabel, a young woman from the provinces who works as a ‘tee girl.’ The narrative uses the enclosed, elite environment of the country club to explore themes of class divide, social inequality, and the tensions between wealth and labor. Director Manuel noted that the golf course serves as a metaphor for the country, where fertile land is worked by many but profited from by a select few.

Distributed by Kino Lorber, the film has already gained international attention, including a screening at the Sundance Film Festival. Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber, described the film as a ‘cinematic miracle’ and expressed commitment to its awards campaign.