Why Dolly de Leon failed to secure that first Oscar nomination

Dolly de Leon. Image from her Instagram

When Dolly de Leon became the first Filipina to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the satirical black comedy “Triangle of Sadness” at the Golden Globe Awards and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards in 2022, it gave the Filipinos hope that it could also lead to a first Oscar nomination for the Philippines. Sadly, it didn’t happen.

Ahead of the Oscars 2025, Cinegang Inc. and the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held a panel discussion on Monday, Nov. 25, as a way to help boost the Filipino actors, filmmakers, and producers’ chances to break through the Hollywood awards season.

During the discussion, dubbed “How to Award Your Film and TV Project,” the distinguished speakers, Filipino-American publicists David Magdael and Annalee Paulo, who are also recognized voters for the Academy Awards, weighed in on what happened during De Leon’s Oscar campaign, saying that presence on the campaign season is a very big factor to consider.

“She (de Leon) should have lived in America for like three months for the campaign,” began Paulo.

From left to right: Winston Emano, David Magdael, Annalee Paulo, and Lisa Lew. Image: INQUIRER.net/Jessica Ann Evangelista

Magdael concurred with Paulo, saying de Leon could have made it big in Hollywood had she made herself present in the United States at least for the duration of the campaign. “She should have been in America as much as for the campaign. I think that was the biggest mistake she made. Because I remember she blew everybody in Hollywood; everybody was talking about her. When it comes to her part, she just takes over the movie and runs with it,” Magdael said.

“We kept trying to get her to stay in the US, but she had familial obligations, and it was hard because her kids are here [in the Philippines].” She could have gotten nominated if she had been in every screening for like a four-week period. Everybody wanted to get in touch with her,” he said.

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Paulo used “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho as an example of someone who went all out with his campaign that eventually led him to bag the Academy Award.

“I fully believe the reason Parasite won is because Bong Joon-ho lived in the United States for like four months and went to every party. It’s a campaign, right?” she explained.

On the other hand, four-time Emmy Award-winning television producer Lisa Lew, who served as one of the moderators in the discussion, believed that all went down to “timing.”

“Triangle of Sadness was a discovery. She (De Leon) could have won,” she added.

Meanwhile, the speakers emphasized that De Leon is already on the map, and with the right strategies, she still stands a chance to bag that first Oscar nomination or victory for the Philippines.

The 2nd MIFF will take place in Hollywood on Jan. 2 to February, which will screen the film entries from the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).