Acclaimed filmmaker Lav Diaz’s historical epic Magellan has been chosen as the Philippines’ official submission to the 98th Academy Awards, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) announced Monday.
The FDCP made the announcement with the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) via its official Facebook page, confirming Diaz’s Magellan as the country’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
To back its global campaign, the FDCP will grant Diaz and his team ₱1 million through its Oscars Assistance Program.
Magellan outpaced six other shortlisted contenders: Green Bones, Food Delivery, Hello Love Again, Sunshine, Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, and Song of the Fireflies.
According to FAP director general Paolo Villaluna, artistic and technical excellence, cultural authenticity, and the film’s reflection of Filipino values and society were key to the committee’s decision. International reach also weighed heavily.
“Alam natin ang (We know that the) Oscars is a big marketing machine. You have to entice Academy members to actually watch your film,” Villaluna said during the opening of Philippine Film Industry Month, where the announcement was made.
The film stars Mexican actor Gael García Bernal as Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer backed by the Spanish crown, who set sail in the early 1500s to seek riches in the Far East. Magellan met his end at the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, struck down in combat by warriors led by Lapu-Lapu.
After its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Magellan is set for a Philippine theatrical release on September 10.
The Academy will unveil the Oscars shortlists on December 16, with the final nominees revealed on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026.