The category’s shortlist has 15 films, of which five will be nominated.
Filipino auteur Lav Diaz‘s “Magellan” didn’t make the International Feature Film shortlist for the 2026 Academy Awards or Oscars, marking another chapter in the Philippines’ decades-long bid for recognition on cinema’s biggest stage.
On Dec. 17, Philippine time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization that hands out the Oscars, announced shortlists in 12 categories: Animated Short Film, Casting, Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Live Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound, and Visual Effects.
“Magellan,” the historical epic about the titular Portuguese explorer portrayed by Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, was nowhere to be found in the 15-item shortlist. Films that made it are:
- Argentina, “Belén”
- Brazil, “The Secret Agent”
- France, “It Was Just an Accident”
- Germany, “Sound of Falling”
- India, “Homebound”
- Iraq, “The President’s Cake”
- Japan, “Kokuho”
- Jordan, “All That’s Left of You”
- Norway, “Sentimental Value”
- Palestine, “Palestine 36”
- South Korea, “No Other Choice”
- Spain, “Sirât”
- Switzerland, “Late Shift”
- Taiwan, “Left-Handed Girl”
- Tunisia, “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
The AMPAS said these 15 films, which were among the eligible entries from 86 countries, will advance to the next round of voting for nominations.
Nomination of entries will take place from Jan. 12 to 16, 2026, and nominees will be announced on Jan. 22. Each category has five nominees, while the coveted Best Picture has 10.
The Oscars, already on its 98th edition, will be held on March 15.
‘It wasn’t the result we hoped for’
Paolo Villaluna, director general of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP)—the government body that selects the country’s entry to the Oscars—told radar Entertainment, “It wasn’t the result we hoped for, and it is sad.”
Villaluna said they “remain deeply proud of the immense effort” of the team behind the film.
He pointed out that “Magellan” went up as high as the 10th spot in the Nov. 27 Oscar prediction rankings of Gold Derby, an authority on awards shows. And as late as Dec. 5, “Magellan” was still in the top-tier contender in the Oscar predictions of Variety, one of the world’s biggest entertainment publications.
“The Oscars is the next frontier to which Filipinos can lay claim, and our chances are stronger,” Villaluna noted.
Villaluna said the FAP will “continue to support Filipino films and filmmakers vying for recognition in industry-based award giving bodies.”
‘Really close to getting shortlisted’
In a separate chat with radar Entertainment, Villaluna underscored the international attention that “Magellan” has received, including a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival last May; Janus Films—the American film distribution company behind Oscar winners “Flow” and “Drive My Car”—picking it up for North America release; and being featured in major industry outlets like Variety, New Yorker, The Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline.
“And, grabe, up until Dec. 12, Lav and his team were in five cities, in five screenings, and 18 media interviews—apart from the previous 40 screenings that ‘Magellan’ held. Waaaa!” Villaluna said, adding that American auteur Ari Aster is a fan of the film.
“Magellan came really close to getting shortlisted,” Villaluna added.
Villaluna said that despite “Magellan” falling short in its Oscars bid, “Our cinema is globally recognized, our storytellers are some of the best in the world.”
“Hollywood is starting to take notice,” he added.
The Oscars is the next frontier to which Filipinos can lay claim, and our chances are stronger.
Paolo VIllaluna
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