Ded Na Si Lolo bested 12 other Filipino films for the singular honor of representing the country in the 82nd Academy Awards scheduled next year. This indie film will vie for the Oscars in the best foreign language film category.

This dramedy was produced by Tony Tuviera's film outfit APT Entertainment in cooperation with the Directors Guild of the Philippines. It received a grade of "A" from the Cinema Evaluation Board when it was screened publicly last May.

In Ded Na Si Lolo, child actor BJ Forbes observes the different pamahiin or Filipino superstitions that his family members did during the wake of his grandfather. The other cast members are Elizabeth Oropesa, Gina Alajar, Roderick Paulate, Manilyn Reynes, Rainier Castillo, and Dick Israel. 

PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) was able to interview Direk Soxie Topacio when he was still promoting his film, which was part of the Sine Direk series. He summarized his work by saying, "The entire movie depicts the six days of lamay [wake]. Nagstart ang pelikula with an announcement na patay na ang tatay nila. Point of view ito ni BJ Forbes, anak ni Manilyn [Reynes] kaya Ded Na Si Lolo ang title.

"Ang ending, libing [ng lolo.] Sa lamay, lahat bawal. Bawal nakapula, bawal maglinis ng bahay, bawal maligo, bawal matuluan ng luha."

When Direk Soxie learned about the good news, he gave his reaction  through a text message to PEP:

"Grabe nati-tense ako ngayon. Kasi noong sinulat ko ang Ded Na Si Lolo, I was just doing it to comply sa DGPI [Directors Guild of the Philippines] call for directors to submit scripts. Ako ang coordinator ng contest so I have to submit also. So I rushed to a secluded place and wrote it in 3 days. Ni hindi ko inisip ito for awards. Even noong shooting, wala lang, we were just enjoying doing the film."

Mr. Tony Tuviera of APT Entertainment also expressed his happiness through this text message:

"We are elated that Ded Na Si Lolo has been selected as the Philippine entry to the 82nd Academy Awards. Our intentions were noble. The film was primarily made to benefit a scholarship for children in need. That it has been given this honor is an incredible blessing."

SHORT LIST. The other Pinoy films that were considered for best foreign language film category were the following: Pitik Bulag (ALV Entertainment); The Last Viewing (Davis Entertainment); Kamoteng Kahoy (APT Entertainment); Concerto (Solito Arts Productions and Seiko Films); Baler (Viva Films); Jay (Pasion para Pelikula Productions); Bente (APT Enterainment) and 100 (Martinez-Rivera Films).

Completing the list are Lola (Centerstage productions); Manila (MJM Productions and Bicycle Pictures); and Adela (Bicycle Pictures).

FAP COMMITTEE MEMBERS. According to the rules of the FAP, one prerequisite for a film to be shortlisted is that it should have been exhibited in theaters for at least seven consecutive days within the period of October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

The eight-man FAP Oscar committee is composed of the following: National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, senior adviser of the Academy and also the chairman of the selection committee; Actor/Director Robert Arevalo, FAP adviser; Director Jose Carreon of the Directors' Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI); Johnny Delgado of the Actors Workshop Foundation;

Director William Mayo of the Philippine Motion Picture Directors' Association (PMPDA); Manny Morfe of the Production Designers Guild of the Philippines (PDGP); Jess Navarro of the United Film Editors' Guild of the Philippines (UFEG); and Director Elwood Perez, PMPDA.

Click HERE to read more about Ded Na Si Lolo.