Rafael Manuel’s feature film “Filipiñana” has been chosen as the official entry from the Philippines for the International Feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. The selection was made from a preliminary shortlist of eight films.
Written and directed by Manuel, the film is distributed by Kino Lorber. Richard Lorber, chairman and CEO of the distributor, expressed strong enthusiasm for the project after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. He described the movie as a “cinematic miracle” and noted that, despite decades in the industry, discovering a debut that feels like the future of cinema was a rare gift. Lorber reaffirmed Kino Lorber’s commitment to supporting an awards campaign for Manuel’s “stunning and astounding” debut, noting that the film is already performing well theatrically in North America.
The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of intense heat and drought, following Isabel, a 17-year-old woman from the Philippine provinces who secures employment at an exclusive golf resort. In an interview with Variety, Manuel explained that the golf course serves as an ideal setting to examine the nation’s deep-seated societal inequities. He highlighted that the first golf courses in the country were established on American military bases before being taken over by the local elite, transforming them into centers of power.
Manuel stated that the golf course acts as a metaphor for the Philippines: a vast, fertile land worked by many but enjoyed and profited from by only a select few. According to the director, this dynamic illustrates the entrenched class divide within the country. The full list of International Feature selections is available online.
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