MANILA, Philippines — Filipino audiences will lastly get to see Lav Diaz’s “Magellan,” the Philippines’ official submission to the 2026 Oscars, when the historic epic sails into native theaters on Sept. 10.
Its homecoming comes because the movie continues a significant worldwide competition tour.
“Lastly, ‘Magellan’ is coming to the shores of the Philippines once more. Magellan comes once more,” stated producer Paul Soriano. “We’re going to be strategic, clearly, with our showings. We needs to be asserting our cinemas very quickly, however on Sept. 10, we can be displaying in Philippine cinemas nationwide.”
“Magellan” world-premiered on the Cannes Movie Pageant final Might. It’s at present screening on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant. Later this month, it would have its US premiere earlier than shifting on to different stops.
“The good information is, it has a large competition run developing, beginning with Toronto. We’re in the principle slate of the New York Movie Pageant. We’ll even be in Busan, Tokyo — it’s gonna be well-traveled. We’re very excited as ‘Magellan’ travels the world once more,” stated Soriano, whose Black Cap Photos bankrolled “Magellan” with Rosa Filmes (Portugal) and Andergraun Movies (Spain).
The movie follows the ultimate months of Magellan’s life main as much as the Battle of Mactan in 1521.
The STAR and different press shops spoke to Soriano, together with the person of the hour, Diaz, on the sidelines of the Movie Academy of the Philippines’ (FAP) announcement that “Magellan” was the nation’s official wager for the Academy Awards’ Greatest Worldwide Characteristic Movie class.
Requested if Gael García Bernal, who portrays the titular position of the Portuguese explorer, will attend the Philippine premiere, Diaz teased, “Subukan, tingnan natin. Maraming kamukha si Gael sa Pilipinas.”
Photograph exhibits a scene from the movie, which was shot in Sampaloc, Quezon.
“For all you realize, he’s right here na,” Soriano added. “We hope to deliver Gael again, clearly. I do know he’s very supportive of the image, he’s very excited that it’s popping out within the Philippines. He will certainly assist us in a technique or one other.”
The movie follows the ultimate months of Ferdinand Magellan’s life main as much as the Battle of Mactan in 1521, the place he was killed by warriors led by Lapulapu, extensively thought to be the primary Filipino hero.
“Walang kissing scene sa pelikula na ito, walang love scene,” Diaz joked. “Might mga nakahubad however yun yung time na yun.”
Director-writer Lav Diaz (proper) and Filipino producer Paul Soriano discuss their plans for his or her Oscars marketing campaign through the launch of the Philippine Movie Business Month at Shangrila-Plaza. — Photograph courtesy of the Movie Growth Council of the Philippines
What may trigger a stir when Filipinos see the movie is its historic framing — which suggests Lapulapu might have been “an invention of Humabon, the monarch of a neighboring island,” in accordance with Agence France Presse in an earlier interview with the Venice Golden Lion-winning director.
“There’s nothing controversial concerning the movie,” Diaz stated when requested by The STAR concerning the movie’s thesis, which was reportedly borne out of a seven-year analysis.
“We are able to defend that and maganda pag-usapan. It’s not controversial, it’s extra of mas progressive yung pagtingin sa nakaraan,” he harassed.
“It’s at all times for the Filipino viewers, for the Malay individuals,” the auteur additional stated about his newest work.
“Binabalikan natin kung saan nagsimula yung connection natin with the Europeans, who began colonialism sa Pilipinas 45 years later after 1521. Magandang balikan yun kung saan nanggaling.”
Oscars marketing campaign
With “Magellan” now charting its course for the Oscars marketing campaign, the query of funding assist naturally arises. The Movie Growth Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has allotted P1 million, which its chair, Joey Reyes, acknowledged is modest.
“Kasi ang labanan dito is in {dollars}. Roughly, the expense when campaigning is about 2 to 2.5 million {dollars},” he stated, citing the previous expertise of an area producer.
“However, I do know that this authorities is absolutely supporting no matter is chosen.”
As for the precise funding quantity, FAP director-general Paolo Villaluna instructed The STAR, “I can’t disclose any quantity nor affirm the knowledge however FAP is striving exhausting to accumulate authorities assist for the chosen movie. With sufficient funds for a sturdy marketing campaign, we imagine we’ve got a combating probability this yr with ‘Magellan’ and Lav Diaz.”
Other than funds, what he believes will give the movie combating probability is that “it’s a stunning, poetic and politically-strong movie to begin with.”
“And a scan of the Oscar winners for the Greatest Worldwide Characteristic class of the previous three years, ‘I’m Nonetheless Right here,’ ‘Zone of Curiosity,’ characteristic sturdy political, socio, justice matters, too.
“And Lav Diaz is a world-renowned (Cannes, Berlin, Venice) Filipino filmmaker whose time has come for Hollywood to find him. Academy voters simply have to listen to concerning the movie so the battle is in advertising and marketing the movie.”
And with the Toronto and New York movie festivals thought-about as “Oscar hubs,” “the chance this yr could be very sturdy.”
On the filmmakers’ half, Soriano assured that the crew is “able to fund-raise.”
Diaz added, “Good factor, we’ve got distributors in North America and European distribution, and sa Pilipinas din. So we’re in excellent arms within the promotional facet. That’s an enormous deal already.”
“We’ll work exhausting (as a result of) hindi lang kami ito, pati bayan kasali.”
In line with Selection, “Magellan” has already tapped Cinetic Advertising, the company behind worldwide characteristic winners “Parasite” and “Drive My Automobile” to assist with their marketing campaign.
Trying again, the movie’s journey to the place it’s now has been a protracted and arduous one for Diaz, who even risked his well being throughout manufacturing.
“Napabayaan ko ang sarili ko. Anim na buwan na nag-gamot sa tuberculosis,” revealed the director, who’s “OK” now and has since absolutely recovered.
The crew had spent one month filming in Europe and 6 months within the Philippines, the place they recreated a 1521 village in Sampaloc, Quezon. For Diaz, working together with his lead star Bernal was definitely a spotlight. “Kilala siyang actor all around the world, mahusay din siya and yung sensibilidad niya parang Filipino. He’s a really clever actor and he actually studied his character. In truth, he ready for that for nearly two years.”
The crew considers Bernal a significant pressure as “Magellan” embarks on a historic quest to turn into the primary Filipino movie to succeed in Hollywood’s greatest stage. No Filipino film has ever made it to the listing of nominees.
Soriano recalled, “(Gael) has been to the Philippines twice already for the shoot. For the primary half, he was right here for 3 weeks after which he got here again for an additional two or three weeks.
“He actually liked the nation, he liked all the things concerning the Philippines. Like Lav stated, he finds it similar to Mexican tradition. He will certainly be again to assist the movie, whether or not it’s gonna be for our Sept. 10 nationwide screening, we should shock you.
“However he’s very supportive, he is aware of concerning the (Oscars) information and he’s additionally excited to marketing campaign with us. He’s gonna be very essential to the marketing campaign for the movie.”
