The Philippines’ ‘And So It Begins’ misses Oscars 2025 shortlist | Image: Facebook/Fap Orig

The Philippines’ official entry to the 2025 Oscars, “And So It Begins,” has failed to secure a spot on the coveted shortlist for Best International Feature Film.

The Academy Awards announced the 15 films that made the cut to the shortlist for the 97th edition of the awarding ceremony, as follows:

Brazil, “I’m Still Here”

Canada, “Universal Language”

Czech Republic, “Waves”

Denmark, “The Girl with the Needle.”

France, “Emilia Pérez”

Germany, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig.”

Iceland, “Touch”

Ireland, “Kneecap”

Italy, “Vermiglio”

Latvia, “Flow” 

Norway, “Armand”

Palestine, “From Ground Zero”

Senegal, “Dahomey”

Thailand, “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies”

United Kingdom, “Santosh”

In late September, Ramona S. Diaz’s documentary film “And So It Begins” was selected as the Philippines’ official entry to the 97th Academy Awards Best International Foreign Film category.

Making its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2024, “And So It Begins” follows former Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential run during the 2022 elections and provides an in-depth look at the complexity of Philippine politics. 

In November, Filipino-American publicists David Magdael and Annalee Paulo, who are also recognized voters for the Academy Awards, reflected on the chances of “And So It Begins” making it to this season’s shortlist after the PH entry “Iti Mapukpukaw” fell short of making the cut last year.

Magdael stressed that since the Philippines was late to announce its official entry, it would be difficult for it to be shortlisted.

“If they had decided earlier, it would have been great. Because then they’d have a longer runaway. They were one of the last [to name their entry]. The people could [have the chance] to watch it earlier. Specifically to And It So Begins, they didn’t decide until September; that’s late,” he said at the time.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” which gained popularity in the Philippines, is the only Asian film that made the Oscars 2025 shortlist. Fans are hoping the film will win.

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Oscars 2025 will take place on March 2.

In a statement on Fridayfox.game, the DOTr said it had inked a transaction advisory service agreement with the World Bank Group unit to lay out the airport project’s terms of reference (TOR).