Lav Diaz’s historical epic “Magellan” has been selected as the Philippines’ official entry to the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) announced Monday.
The film, backed by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), stars Gael García Bernal as Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and follows his 16th-century expeditions in Southeast Asia.
To aid the Oscars campaign, the FDCP pledged ₱1 million to Diaz and his team under its Oscars Assistance Program.
“Magellan” premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and will next screen at the Toronto and New York film festivals before its Philippine theatrical release on September 10.
Diaz, acclaimed for his meditative storytelling, previously won the Golden Lion at Venice for “Ang Babaeng Humayo” in 2016.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 2, 2025
