NOEL FERRER
Noong October 2024, through Executive Order No. 70/2024, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) became an attached agency with the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI).
Ito ay naatasang magkaroon ng reorganization at restructuring sa pamumuno ng independent filmmaker na si dating Director’s Guild President Paolo Villaluna, na ni-recommend ng mga industry stakeholders at na-appoint bilang FAP director-general.
For eight months now, naging abala na si Paolo sa pagre-restructure ng opisina, acquiring a national budget, and creating programs together with the relevant stakeholders from the audio-visual industries.
Ang new FAP’s mandate includes providing programs, training, and support for the professionalization and welfare of film workers and the recognition of outstanding films and artists.
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PHILIPPINE ENTRY TO OSCARS
One of its main mandate is the selection of the Philippine entry for Best International Feature Film category to the annual Academy Awards.
Kasama sa revitalized FAP strategy ay ang pamimili ng pelikulang lahok nang mas maaga sana to provide producers enough time to campaign for the December 15 shortlist announcement of AMPAS, as well as the provision of substantial financial support para sa isang extensive Oscar campaign mula sa national government para sa napiling lahok natin mula sa Pilipinas.
Ang Oscar entry selection committee natin ay binubuo ng pitong miyembro na may di matatawarang integridad at magandang reputasyon sa industriya para sa ating Oscar contender.
For transparency, FAP has released the process by which committee members were chosen:
1. Professional Expertise
2. Diversity and Representation
3. Independence and Impartiality
4. Knowledge of AMPAS Rules
5. Transparency
6. Commitment to Evaluation
The selection committee will review the entry’s eligibility at required silang panoorin ang lahat ng isinubmit na lahok sa kanilang kabuuan.
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GORGY RULA
Batay sa rules mandated by AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), ang mga sumusunod ang required to be eligible for the Best International Feature category:
1. Film must have been released/publicly exhibited in its country of origin between October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025.
2. Public exhibition is defined as 7 consecutive days of screening at a public commercial theater for “profit of producer and exhibitor.”
3. Films that in any version, receive a non-theatrical screening (streaming, PPV, VOD etc) prior to its qualifying theatrical release are not eligible.
4. The recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly (more than 50%) in a language or language other than English. English subtitles required.
CONTENDERS FOR PHILIPPINE ENTRY
Mula sa umpukang showbiz, maraming napag-uusapang matunog na puwede nating maging aspiring entry para sa 98th Oscars o Academy Awards.
Off hand, nandiyan ang MMFF 2024 Best Picture na Green Bones ni Zig Dulay.
Puwede ring ang kasalukuyang pinipilahan at sinusuportahang may international visibility na rin na Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea ni Baby Ruth Villarama at Sunshine ni Tonet Jadaone.
Maaari ring ma-consider ang umikot na rin sa international festivals na Some Nights I Feel Like Walking ni Petersen Vargas, Espantaho ni Chito Roño, at Magellan ni Lav Diaz.
Bukod pa rito, marami pa tayong magagandang documentaries at short films na puwedeng ma-consider ng Oscars.
Exciting ito sa FAP Oscar selection this year.
Sana, maraming mag-submit for consideration, at magandang makita ang plano nila kung paano paiingayin ang lahok natin sa Oscar community abroad.
Darating na kaya ang pinakaaasam-asam nating Oscar nomination this time? Sana!
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JERRY OLEA
Inilahad ni Director General Paolo Villaluna ang mandato ng bagong Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) sa Araw ng Pagkakaisa ng Pelikulang Pilipino noong Agosto 9, 2025, Sabado, sa Valencia Events Place, Quezon City.
“Gusto kong pasalamatan ang balat at dugo ng pelikulang Pilipino, ang mga manggagawa,” pasakalye ni Direk Paolo.
Isa-isang in-acknowledge ni Direk Paolo ang mga guild na present sa nasabing pagtitipon.
Dagdag niya: “Actually, baka magulat kayo, bakit napakaraming guilds. Kasama ito sa prosesong pagdadaanan natin bilang industriya, at kasama rin sa programa natin to streamline all the guilds.
“Although, in fact, nung nalaman ng mga manggagawa na may bago nang Film Academy of the Philippines, magkakaroon na rin tayo ng guild for utility workers.
"Magkakaroon tayo ng guild para sa tentmakers, yung mga nagtatayo ng mga tent natin.
“At importante na may representation lahat ng manggagawa, hindi mga sikat lang na mga sektor, OK.
“Last year, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang pamahalaan na tumulong sa industriya. At nakita nila na may chance para i-revitalize at i-revamp ang Film Academy of the Philippines.”
PINOY OSCAR PURSUIT
Ipinunto ni Direk Paolo na nagkakapareho minsan ang mandato ng FAP, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), at Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund).
“Ang maganda dito, sa unity nating tatlo ngayon, nag-uusap kami internally para hindi nagkakapare-pareho iyong aming mga programa,” pakli ni Direk Paolo.
Ang dalawang main programs ng revitalized FAP ay Film Worker Development, Training and Protection Program, at Film Awards and Recognition Program.
Nasa ilalim ng ikalawang Main Program ang subprogram na Pinoy Oscar Pursuit.
Pahayag ni Direk Paolo: “Kailangan naming i-strategize to engance our chance doon sa annual Oscar awards.
“For the past year, we have been studying yung data, yung mga pinapadala natin at saka other countries. We are actually offering some strategies lang to enhance our chances.
“We will have proper selection of films and drumbeat publicity early. Even before the selection, dapat ang FAP, nakatingin na. May nanalo ba sa Cannes? May nanalo ba sa Venice? Na 85% of Cannes and Venice winners, they actually become Oscar contenders.
“So that early pa lang, we should be supporting them already with publicity and all our government support na puwede.
“We will widen our selection beyond Best International Feature. Hindi ito alam ng industriya pero may mga Oscar-qualifying film festivals.
“Last year, meron tayong dalawang short films na nanalo in three qualifying Oscar film festivals. Suportahan natin. We might get our first nomination there.
“Best documentary, we are hoping na iyon is another opportunity for us to be nominated sa Oscars.
“We will strengthen our AMPAS and Hollywoods. Ahh, we will have an earlier selection process. We usually end up selecting September na, and the shortlisting ng Oscars ay December 15.
“So this early, actually, meron na tayong Oscar Selection Committee. We’re already working with AMPAS.
“And we’re hoping to actually announce by August 20, yung ating Best International Feature nominee.
“And substantial financial support from the national government. Ahh I will not disclose the amount na ni-request namin from the proper agency but it is very, very substantial…
“We’re not talking here of billions, but it is very good to the deserving film. We will support the Best International Feature and other categories na eligible. So we will getting that from the national government.”
Sabi pa ni Direk Paolo, aayusin ng FAP ang annual Luna Awards.
“The hope is it will become the country’s most prominent award-giving body,” sey pa ni Direk Paolo.
Read: FDCP, FAP, at Mowelfund nagsanib-puwersa para sa local film industry