Hey guys. Last Sept 8 , was the announcement of Philippine entry to the Oscars. The winning film is "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros " . Personally, I would have prefereed the movie "The Bet Collector " . 

Here is the news courtesy of Philippine Inquirer

_______________________________________________

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 00:42am (Mla time) 09/08/2006

Published on Page F1 of the September 8, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer 

ITS FINAL AND OFFICIAL.

The Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) has chosen an indie movie, ufo Pictures Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros ( The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros ) as the Philippine entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 79th Oscar Awards set in February next year in Los Angeles.

The news was confirmed by FAP secretary-general Leo Martinez and National Artist for Film Eddie Romero.

Romeros 1976 film Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon ( How we were then, How are you now? ) was the countrys first entry to the Oscars.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which hands out the Oscars, used to work with Romero in the annual selection. He has since turned over the responsibility to the FAP.

Double time

Romero and Martinez said a screening committee was formed to ensure an RP entry. Last year, the FAP came under fire for failing to field one.

Boots Anson-Roa, a member of the FAP Board of Governors, told Inquirer Entertainment that the committee had worked double time to beat the Oscar deadline set on Oct. 2.

The committee, chaired by Romero, consisted of FAP members Pablo S. Gomez, Jose N. Carreon, Johnny Delgado, William Mayo and George Estregan Jr.

Romero confirmed that Maximo had come up against another indie digital film, MLR Films Kubrador.( Bet Collector ) 

Perhaps what spelled the difference for Maximo was that its a moving, human story, and has won a lot of awards abroad, said Romero.

According to ufo Pictures producer Raymond Lee, Maximo has won 12 international awards and joined 35 international film festivals. Locally, it has won 12 trophies, including top plums in the critics (Urian) and movie press (Star) awards.

Its biggest international awards are from film fests held in Montreal, Singapore and Canary Islands. It received the Best Gay/Lesbian Feature trophy at the Berlin International Film Festival, beating Oscar contenders Capote and Breakfast on Pluto. It also topped the Berlinale Kinderfilmfest.

Sundance sojourn

Moreover, Maximo earned the distinction of being the first homegrown feature to compete in the World Cinema section of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and was the opening film in the 35th New Directors/New Films program presented by the Museum of Modern Art and Lincoln Center in New York.

(Kubrador has won awards in the Moscow and Osian Cinefan (India) film fests. It has been invited to 17 film feststhe latest of which is Toronto, where another Filipino film, Centerstages Twilight Dancers, is also participating.)

All the entries will be screened in LA. Last year, a record 58 countries competed for only five slots in the Best Foreign Language Film category that was eventually won by Tsotsi from South Africa.

The Philippines has never made it to the top five.

Tony Gloria, president of Unitel Pictures, the US distributor of Maximo, vowed that his company would pull out all stops to improve the films chances in the Oscar race.

________________________________________________