Lav Diaz's 'Magellan' is PH's official entry to Oscars 2026

Historical drama Magellan is the Philippines' official entry to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

The Film Academy of the Philippines and Film Development Council of the Philippines made the announcement on Monday, Sept. 1, during the opening ceremony of FDCP’s Philippine Film Industry Month 2025.

According to FDCP, it will grant P1 million to director Lav Diaz and his team to further support the Oscars campaign through its Oscars Assistance Program.

Magellan chronicles the last months of Ferdinand Magellan's life, leading up to his death in a battle with the native people of Mactan in April 1521.

Diaz describes the film as a story about how power corrupts and the myth of discovery.

“It’s a film about how power intoxicates and the myth of discovery,” explained Diaz. “Here, Magellan (played by Gael García Bernal) is no hero, he is a man facing his own oblivion.”

The movie was filmed in the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain, including on a replica of Magellan's ship, the Victoria.

Meanwhile, when asked about how the retelling veers off previous cinematic iterations of Magellan’s expedition, actress and production manager Hazel Orencio told PhilSTAR L!fe that "It’s not learning history, it’s feeling history.”

“It’s [incorporating] Malay history into world history,” she continues. “It’s not just Magellan’s history. It’s not just Magellan’s pursuit. It’s our representation.”

The film also stars Ângela Azevedo, Amado Arjay Babon, and Ronnie Lazaro.

Diaz returned to the Cannes Film Festival earlier this May with Magellan. The film, originally nine hours long, has been edited down to three hours for its premiere.

The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.