PH films ‘Food Delivery,’ ‘Magellan’ included in Oscars 2026 eligibility list

November 24 ------ Two Filipino films have secured spots on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ list of qualified titles for the 98th Academy Awards.

Baby Ruth Villarama’s documentary, “Food Delivery: Fresh from the Philippine Sea,” is included among the eligible documentary features, while Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” is part of the international feature film roster. The Academy released the official list of qualified entries on Nov. 22 (Manila time), covering the categories of Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature Film, and International Feature Film.

“Food Delivery” producer Therese Malvar welcomed the inclusion of the two Philippine titles, noting the extensive Oscar efforts behind Villarama’s documentary. “I’m super happy that we are very much visible with the Academy!” she told Inquirer Entertainment. “Knowing the efforts of Director Baby Ruth Villarama and Sir Chuck Gutierrez with their Oscars campaign in the US, this is really worth it.”

Hoping for many voters

“I hope more people get to see the magic and beauty of our West Philippine Sea and the protectors of our waters. Being part of the list is already an honor — hoping many of the voters will vote for the film, along with ‘Magellan.’ A great year indeed for Filipino films!” “We are deeply honored that Food Delivery has been included in the Academy’s list for Best Documentary. For us, this is more than recognition. It is a powerful beginning,” Villarama and producer-editor Gutierrez, for their part, said.

“Being part of this Oscars list gives Filipino stories a bigger platform to reach the world, and it proves that our truth will always find a way forward no matter who tries to stop it,” they added. “I hope this moment inspires more Filipinos to tell our story with courage. Our past, our present, and the future we are fighting for deserve to be heard. The world is listening, and we must keep on making our films.”

This year, 201 titles are eligible for consideration in the Documentary Feature Film category. According to an article by Deadline, a major US-based entertainment news outlet, members of the Academy’s documentary branch will determine the shortlist of 15 titles, set for release on Dec. 16, alongside the shortlists for Live Action and Animated Shorts.

Source: inquirer.net