March kicks off with some pretty exciting news: Three Filipino-American films are being considered for nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards. Plus, the three films, “A Thousand Cuts,” “Lingua Franca” and “Yellow Rose,” are all directed by women.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) announced that the films by Ramona Diaz, Isabel Sandoval and Diane Paragas, respectively, are “among the 366 titles eligible for consideration for Best Picture.”
A Thousand Cuts
“A Thousand Cuts” by Ramona Diaz, first shown in the country for a limited time on Independence Day last year, has constantly been making headlines especially amid the libel cases against Rappler’s Maria Ressa and the shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN. It is a glimpse into the struggles of Filipino journalists in a period considered to be one of a “dying democracy.”
[READ: Justice not served: A look at the PH’s insidious political systems through these documentaries]Early today, Mar. 3, The Washington Post reported that producer and broadcaster Frontline PBS will be making “A Thousand Cuts” for free on YouTube and on the PBS website starting Mar. 13.
“While the PBS-backed film earned rave reviews since its Sundance premiere and will be seen in nearly every European nation, no broadcaster in the Philippines was willing to air it. So for the first time in its four-decade history, Frontline has bought out a documentary’s distribution rights to make it directly available in the country most impacted by the film,” writes The Washington Post.
Lingua Franca
Another Filipino-American film that made waves last year was Isabel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca.” Among its many accolades, it was named Best Film (International Narrative) at the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival and Best Narrative Feature at the Bentonville Film Festival. It was also nominated for a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Award for Outstanding Film.
“Lingua Franca” tells the story of an undocumented trans Filipina caregiver in New York. Sandoval also portrays the lead character in the film.
[READ: What does it mean to be Filipino in 2020? A digital library answers, one personal story at a time]Yellow Rose
Headlined by Broadway actress Eva Noblezada, “Yellow Rose” tells the story of Rose, child of an undocumented Filipino immigrant, and her journey towards her dream of pursuing a career in music amid the constant threat of deportation.
The Diane Paragas film has bagged 13 jury awards since it premiered in 2019. Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga and veteran actress Princess Punzalan also appear in the film.
[READ: The Philippines is finally going to see Eva Noblezada and Lea Salonga’s “Yellow Rose”]“Yellow Rose” is also available for viewing on KTX.ph.
According to the Oscars website, the official nominations will be announced on Mar. 15. The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on Apr. 25.