Brillante Mendoza’s ’Mindanao’ is Philippine's entry to 2021 Oscars

The film “Mindanao,” directed by Brillante Mendoza, has been chosen as the Philippines’ official entry to the 2021 Academy Awards International feature film category.

The 2019 film featuring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon received multiple awards at the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival, including Best Picture.

The Film Academy of the Philippines announced on November 24 and congratulated Mendoza and his lead actors.

“We are pleased to announce the selection of the feature film, Mindanao, as the Philippines’ official entry to the 93rd OSCARS International Feature Film category,” said FAP Director-General Vivian Velez said in a Facebook post.

“Mindanao won best picture in the most recent Metro Manila Film Festival and featured Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon as the lead actors, directed by Brillante Mendoza. Congratulations and best wishes!” she added.

Mindanao is about Saima (Judy Ann Santos), caring for her cancer-stricken daughter Aisa (Yuna Tangog). Simultaneously, she awaits her husband Malang (Allen Dizon) to come home, who serves as a combat medic deployed in the southern Philippines. Their struggle is juxtaposed with the folklore of Rajah Indara Patra and Rajah Sulayman, the sons of Sultan Nabi, who fights to stop a dragon devastating Lanao.

Brillante Mendoza’s ’Mindanao’ is Philippine’s entry to 2021 Oscars

Mindanao was produced under Center Stage Production and was directed by Brillante Mendoza. Mendoza and Carlo Valenzona produced it. Diego Marx Dobles was responsible for the editing, Odyssey Flores for the cinematography, while Teresa Barrozo provided direction for the film’s music. Mendoza himself also was behind the film’s production design.

The film premiered in 2019 and won Best Film at the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2019.

Brillante Mendoza won Best Director, while Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon won Best Actress and Best Actor.

The film was first released outside the Philippines at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2019, as part of the Icons category. It was also exhibited at the Tokyo on October 30, 2019.

Every year, the Academy chooses five entries from all around the world for its International Film Feature competition.