FAP clarifies ‘Dagsin’ not yet official PH entry to Oscars

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The Philippines has not yet chosen its official entry to the prestigious 92nd Academy Awards or the 2020 Oscars.

In its statement released on Friday, August 30, the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) clarified an August 29 article by the Hollywood Reporter which reported that “Dagsin” is the country’s official entry to the Oscars’ international film feature category, formerly known as foreign language category.

“We would like to emphasize that the movie ‘Dagsin’ is among the movies that is being considered as a POSSIBLE ENTRY to the International Film Feature Category of the Oscars and NOT THE COUNTRY’S OFFICIAL ENTRY YET,” the FAP said.

The article’s headline has now been updated to “Oscars: ‘Dagsin’ Emerges as Frontrunner for Philippines’ Pick in International Feature Film Category.”

“The screening of the films being considered by a local screening panel approved by the Oscars will begin in September to meet the deadline of the submission of the country’s film entry on Oct. 1, 2019,” the FAP announced.

It added that it is only after the given deadline that they can choose a film which will be the Philippines’ official entry to the 2020 Oscars.

Starring Tommy Abuel, Benjamin Alvez, Janine Guttierez, and Lotlot de Leon, among others, “Dagsin” tells the story of Justino, a Death March survivor, who lost his legs and became an atheist. But after his wife’s demise, he yearned to believe in life after death to be with her again. Searching for her memories that he can still hold on to, he read his wife’s diaries not knowing that he would open a Pandora’s Box of secrets.

The film, directed by Atom Magadia, debuted in 2016 as a Cinema Film Fest entry.

Anne Prado-Magadia, the movie’s producer, meanwhile was thrilled to spread the good news on her Facebook account that “Dagsin” got short-listed as the possible Philippine entry to the Oscars.

Sharing a photo of the letter from the FAP, Anne wrote in the caption, “Thank you God for giving us this, to help fuel us when production gets rough.”

“To Team Dagsin, our family, and to our friends in the industry…The fact that we never lose hope and still push to make relevant films, gives us all a reason to hope and celebrate,” she continued.

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