Rafael Manuel’s “Filipiñana” has been chosen as the official entry from the Philippines in the international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. It was selected from a shortlist of 8 films.
The film is written and directed by Manuel and is distributed by Kino Lorber.
Richard Lorber, Chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber, said, “From the moment I saw ‘Filipiñana’ at the Sundance Film Festival, I’ve been telling everyone I know that it’s nothing short of a cinematic miracle.” He added, “When you’ve been distributing films for many decades, as I have, it feels like a gift that you can still discover something that truly feels like the future of the form. I am beyond thrilled that Rafael Manuel’s stunning and astounding debut has been chosen as the Philippines’ official Oscar submission and wish to reaffirm Kino Lorber’s commitment to helping it go the distance. ‘Filipiñana’ is already a theatrical hit in North America and our team is poised and ready to work with the film’s producers to translate our ongoing publicity and marketing efforts into a successful awards campaign.”
The film is set against a backdrop of oppressive heat and drought. The narrative follows Isabel, a 17-year-old from the provinces of the Philippines, who gets a job at a prestigious golf resort.
Speaking with Variety, Manuel said he felt the golf course was the perfect setting for the film to explore societal inequities in the country. With the very first courses established on American military bases, the local elite eventually took over, making the golf course a center of power.
“When you think about it, it’s a good metaphor for the country in that it’s very large and situated on a very fertile plot of land that’s toiled on and worked on by so many people, but ultimately enjoyed and profited from by only a select few.” That, Manuel said, illustrates the class divide that has been so ingrained in the Philippines.
The international feature selections can be found here.