(SPOT.ph) Ma' Rosa—the Brillante Mendoza-helmed film for which Jaclyn Jose bagged the Best Actress award at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in May—is the country's entry to the 89th Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category.
It may be recalled that eight other films had been shortlisted as possible Oscars entries. They are the following:
Anino sa Likod ng Buwan by Jun Lana
Ang Hapis sa Himagsik ni Hermano Puli by Gil Portes
Dukot by Paul Soriano
Felix Manalo by Joel Lamangan
Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis by Lav Diaz
Honor Thy Father by Erik Matti
Pamilya Ordinaryo by Eduardo Roy Jr.
Tuos by Roderick Cabrido
CNN Philippines quoted the award-winning Mendoza as saying, "I am happy. I'm very excited. I didn't expect it."
Ma' Rosa tells the story of Rosa Reyes (Jaclyn Jose), a woman who owns a convenience store in a poor neighborhood in Manila, making ends meet with her husband Nestor (Julio Diaz) by selling drugs.
The final five nominees will be announced on January 24, 2017. The winner will be named at the Oscars ceremony.