The Film Academy of the Philippines will extend campaign support to 58th and Agapito as they seek consideration in their respective categories for the 99th Academy Awards.
Carl Joseph Papa’s 58th will be supported for consideration in the Best Documentary Feature Film category, while Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero’s Agapito will be supported for consideration in the Best Live Action Short Film category.
“The Oscars should see more of Philippine cinema, and Pinoy Oscars Pursuit is our effort to make that happen. We are proud to support 58th and Agapito as they bring their stories, their craft, and their distinct Filipino voices to the Academy,” Villaluna said.
58th is an animated documentary directed by Carl Joseph Papa that revisits the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre through the story of Reynafe Castillo, whose father, photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, was among those killed in the massacre but whose remains were never recovered.
The film premiered at the 2026 International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it was presented in the Harbour section, and was subsequently selected for the Contrechamp section of the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. It also received the Facing the Edge Award at the 2026 Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, an Academy Awards-qualifying documentary festival.
Agapito, directed by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero, premiered in the Short Film Competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. It later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received an Honourable Mention from the Short Cuts jury.
The film follows Mira, a senior pin setter at a fading duckpin bowling alley, and her monthly visits with her brother Junior.
Through Pinoy Oscars Pursuit, the Film Academy seeks to support Filipino films pursuing consideration across different Academy Award categories and at other major international and industry awards.
