Filipino animated film Iti Mapukpukaw is PH's Oscar entry

The animated Filipino-Ilocano film "Iti Mapukpukaw" is the Philippines' official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards.

Directed by Carl Joseph Papa, the rotoscope animated film recently won Best Film at the 2023 Cinemalaya Philippine Film Festival and made history as its first full-length animated entry.

Ninety animators worked on "Iti Mapukpukaw," which was co-produced by Project 8 and GMA Public Affairs First VP and GMA Pictures Senior Vice President Nessa Valdellon.

The film stars Carlo Aquino, Dolly de Leon, and Gio Gahol, with Dolly de Leon winning the Best Supporting Actress Award at Cinemalaya for her role.

"Iti Mapukpukaw" tells the story of Eric, a Filipino animator without a mouth, whose memories become untangled with the arrival of an alien.

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will provide P1,000,000 to support the film's Oscar campaign.