Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” is the official Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of next year’s American Academy awards or the Oscars. This was confirmed to InterAksyon by Film Academy of the Philippines director-general Leo Martinez who said the special committee tasked with selecting the official Philippine entry made the decision Wednesday.
“We made the announcement to finally end all speculations,” Martinez said.
Moira Lang (aka Raymond Lee), who is credited as the film’s producer along with Kristine Kintana, Maya Quirino, Kayan and InterAksyon columnist Jessica Zafra, earlier posted the words “Philippine entry #oscars” in her Facebook page.
Interaksyon had earlier predicted that “Norte” would be in strong contention for the selection. The epic reimagining of Dostoevsky’s classic novel “Crime and Punishment” that made its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival last year has since developed an internation al cachet that should boost its coming Oscar campaign.
It received rave reviews from the New York Times, The Guardian, Film Comment and many other respected publications and online news and film sites. It is included among several lists of Best
Films of 2014 including the British Film Institute’s venerable Sight & Sound magazine. It won Best Picture in the recently concluded Gawad Urian Awards of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Just recently, it also snagged four nominations in the coming Golden Screen Awards of the Entertainment Press Society.
Written by Lav Diaz and Rody Vera, “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” stars Sid Lucero, Archie Alemania, Angeli Bayani, Mailes Kanapi, Soliman Cruz, Hazel Orencio and Mae Paner. It recently concluded a successful two-week theatrical run in cinemas nationwide.
Announcement of the official nominees for the Best Foreign Language film category of the 87th Academy Awards will be on January, 2015. The awards ceremonies are scheduled on February 22 of next year.