MANILA, Philippines—“Super overwhelmed,” was director Dante Garcia’s reaction upon learning that his debut feature “Ploning” was selected by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) as the country’s entry to the Oscars Best Foreign Language derby.

From this point, it has to compete with 50 to 60 other films from around the world for only five slots in said category.

Garcia, a production designer by profession, was also scriptwriter for “Ploning.”

“Maybe I did something right,” he told Inquirer Entertainment on Monday. “Maybe it wasn’t just a lucky turn.”

Judy Ann Santos, the film’s producer and lead star, was just as ecstatic, Garcia said.

Tears of joy

“We celebrated on Sunday,” he said. “But before that, when I told Judai on the phone, we both ended up crying,” Garcia recounted. “It’s special to her because it’s also her debut as producer. Also, the Oscar announcement came after a controversy [regarding the Supreme Court’s rejection of Santos’ appeal concerning a tax evasion case.]”

Garcia is also elated because “Ploning” vied with five other noteworthy Filipino movies for the slot: Jim Libiran’s “Tribu,” Dante Mendoza’s “Serbis,” Auraeus Solito’s “Pisay,” Jade Castro’s “Endo” and Chito Roño’s “Caregiver.”

“Just to be mentioned in the same breath as those films is honor enough,” Garcia said.

Special committee

The selection was made by a special committee formed by FAP and chaired by National Artist for Film Eddie Romero, explained FAP director general Leo Martinez.

Among the committee members were filmmakers Jose Carreon, secretary of the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Inc., and William Mayo, president of the Philippine Motion Picture Directors’ Association; Johnny Delgado, chair of the Actors’ Workshop Foundation; Pablo S. Gomez, president of the Screenwriters’ Guild of the Philippines; and Manny Morfe, president of the Production Designers’ Guild of the Philippines.

Martinez related that it was a tight race between “Ploning” and “Caregiver,” which received three and two votes, respectively, from the committee members.

“The producers of ‘Ploning’ need to submit all requirements, including an English-subtitled print, by October,” said Martinez.

“Ploning” will be screened by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and if it makes it through the first round that will be announced on Jan. 22, 2009 (called the January Short List), a second print needs to be submitted on Jan. 23.

Thrilling

“When it was screened at the Paris Cinema festival last July, I was thrilled to see foreigners among the crowd, but now this small film from Cuyo (Palawan) will be viewed by people from Hollywood,” Garcia related.

“Ploning,” which is currently being shown in Canada, will also have theatrical screenings in the US—in San Antonio, Texas, (from Sept. 18 to 20) and in Los Angeles, California, (from Sept. 29 to 30).

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