Dolly de Leon urges Filipinos to support PH entry to 2024 Oscars

Dolly de Leon. Image: Instagram/@starcinema

No less than Golden Globe nominee Dolly de Leon is urging Filipinos to throw their support behind the Filipino-Ilocano animated film “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing), the Philippines’ entry to the 2024 Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

“Iti Mapukpukaw,” which stars Leon alongside Carlo Aquino and Gio Gahol, is the official entry of the Philippines to the Best International Feature Film category for the Academy Awards.

During the opening night of the 11th QCinema International Film Festival, de Leon urged Filipino viewers to promote and spread the word regarding “Iti Mapukpukaw” to increase its chances of being nominated for the Oscars.

‘Yun talaga ang pinakakailangan namin, ang suporta ng mga tao to spread the word about ‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ na ma-nominate siya for consideration sa Oscars,” said the actress. “Ito na ‘yung chance natin, ng Pilipinas, na ipakita gaano tayo kagaling. And it’s really a beautiful film.”

De Leon’s own breakout performance in the international film “Triangle of Sadness” marked her first foray into a near Oscar nomination. While failing to get the Oscar nod, de Leon, however, managed to obtain such recognition from the Golden Globes, an honor that she hoped will extend to the Philippine film industry.

“Iti Mapukpukaw” made history after bagging the Best Film award at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival last August. While the film won the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award, De Leon received the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film.

Armed with a well-crafted narrative told in the most captivating way, “Iti Mapukpukaw” captured not just the viewers interest but the critics’ as well. The film successfully took the audience to the realms of technology and emotional demons, ensuring a memorable cinematic experience.

“When I read the script, I knew early on that it would be a beautiful project. This was because the way the subject matter, which is a very sensitive topic, was tackled was so moving. It’s not a fun topic to talk about, but the way Carl handled it, his treatment on how a child processes trauma, I thought that was painful and beautiful at the same time,” de Leon said in a previous interview with Inquirer entertainment.

She further said in an Instagram post: “This film is also extra special to me because my character speaks Ilokano here – the language from my Dad’s side.”

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences who will scrutinize the official entries in the international film category will then come up with a shortlist to be voted on.

Hollywood projects

With the SAG-AFTRA strike ending, the Golden Globe nominee will shoot her upcoming Hollywood TV series “Nine Perfect Strangers” in January with two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Nicole Kidman.

De Leon recently starred opposite Kathryn Bernardo in “A Very Good Girl.” The film made a noteworthy impression in Philippine cinema as it successfully caught not just the attention of the locals but also the internationals.