Director Rafael Manuel fought hard to keep Jorrybelle Agoto as Isabel for the Oscar-bound feature.
Jorrybell Agoto did not expect to return as Isabel when “Filipiñana” made the jump from short film to feature.
Five years had passed since she first played the character, and Agoto knew the odds were different this time around.
“Actually po hindi ko din talaga siya in-expect na ako ulit yung ika-cast nila,” Agoto told radar Entertainment in an exclusive interview, during which she also shared photos from “Filipiñana” straight from her phone gallery.
She explained that feature films tend to lean toward actors with established names and bigger followings, unlike short films. There was also the matter of age: Isabel was supposed to be 17, while five years had already passed since Agoto first took on the role.
Those concerns made her unsure if she would still be part of Rafael Manuel’s feature adaptation.
Manuel fought to keep her as Isabel
But Manuel, who directed both the short and feature versions, pushed for her to stay.
“Sobrang nilaban din ako ni Direk Ram for the role. Sabi niya, ‘No, Isabel is Jorybell,’” Agoto recalled.
For Agoto, having a director fight to preserve his original casting choice meant more than simply getting the job back. “Sobrang nakakatuwa. Grabe ang respect ko kay Direk lalo na sa vision niya,” she said. “Nakakatuwa na may ganon siyang conviction at ready siyang ipaglaban ’yon.”
Agoto eventually found herself taking Isabel to an international stage, with “Filipiñana” premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before making its way to Berlin. The film later became the Philippines’ Oscar submission for the 98th Academy Awards.
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Brought home closer to Berlin
For Agoto, Berlin was particularly memorable. She had already attended the Berlinale in 2025 as one of the selected participants of Berlinale Talents, a global program that brings together filmmakers, actors and other film professionals.
Her second Berlin trip was for “Filipiñana,” which was invited to the festival’s official program.
She recalled being seated at festival dinners alongside people connected to major Hollywood productions.
“Sobrang amazing,” she said. “Kasi ako, si Direk Rafael, even our DOP, are all Berlinale Talents. So sobra din talaga ’yong support from the festival.”
But what stayed with her most was the response from Filipino audiences.
Agoto said Filipinos approached her after screenings, some of them in tears, expressing how proud they were to see the Philippines represented at an international festival.
“Sobrang responsive ng mga tao. Grabe ’yong tawa nila,” she said of the Berlin screenings, adding that she was particularly moved when Filipinos told her that watching “Filipiñana” made them remember home.
“Pinapanood pa lang namin yung pelikula naaalala na namin ’yong init ng Pilipinas,” she recalled them telling her.
That was an unexpected part of the film’s impact, said Agoto.
“Nakakatuwa lang na hindi lang emotions ‘yong itatawid ng film sa mga audience, but rather ’yong weather din pala, at ’yong pakiramdam.”
As “Filipiñana” continues its Oscar campaign, Agoto admitted she has not yet allowed herself to think too far ahead about what the campaign could mean for her career.
Instead, she has been focused on how Filipino audiences respond to the film.
She was nevertheless stunned to see social media posts placing her alongside established stars and filmmakers.
“I’m a nobody pa sa industry,” she said. “So parang isang malaking karangalan na sa aking makita ’yong mukha ko doon sa tabi ng well-known and well-established actors and filmmakers.”
Work that speaks for her
That humility also extends to how she views recognition.
Agoto will receive an Achievement Award at the 2026 Philippine Film Industry Month celebration for her work in contemporary cinema. The recognition is part of PFIM 2026’s Annual Achievement Awards.
“To be honest, gusto kong makilala for the right reasons,” she said. “‘Yong fame na gusto ko, gusto ko more on my process bilang actor.”
She described the FDCP recognition as a form of validation. “It’s like saying, ‘Okay, I’m on the right track.’”
Her biggest dream is to be known for a particular kind of acting and to have people ask about the process behind her performances.
“More on craft-driven ’yung gusto kong maging path ng career ko, rather than the showbiz and the fame side of it,” she said, “Mas gusto kong makilala ako ng tao for the project, not because of my name.”
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