PEP: 'Ploning' fails bid for an Oscar nomination

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the nine films eligible for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar this year. These nine films were chosen from 65 eligible films from different countries, including the Philippines' "Ploning." Unfortunately, "Ploning" – which stars Judy Ann Santos and directed by Dante "Nico" Garcia – did not make the cut. According to a report by Susan King in an article posted at the Los Angeles Times ( theenvelope.latimes.com), several hundred Los Angeles-based members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted for their six top choices among the 65 eligible films, while the three titles were selected by Academy's Foreign Language Film Award Executive committee Golden-Globe winner "Waltz With Bashir" from Israel is one of the nine films advancing to the next round of voting; along with "Revanche" (Austria), "The Necessities of Life" (Canada), "The Class" (France), "The Baader Meinhof Complex" (Germany), "Departures" (Japan), "Tear This Heart Out" (Mexico), "Everlasting Moments" (Sweden), and "3 Monkeys" (Turkey). This short list will be narrowed down to five nominees by specially selected committees, both in Los Angeles and New York, who will spend this weekend screening three films per day. The nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards will be announced on Jan. 22. Judy Ann Santos, also the co-producer of "Ploning," had lobbied profusely for her film's Oscar bid. The actress and her friends held fund-raising events – like "Damit Para Kay Ploning," "Plato Para Kay Ploning," and "Laro Para Kay Ploning – to help the film's cause. Then, on Jan. 18, ABS-CBN will even air a TV special titled "Pangarap Ni Ploning" on Sunday's Best. Juday and Direk Dante's efforts to make "Ploning" the first-ever Filipino film to be nominated in the Best Foreign Language category of Oscars is admirable, but it was still not enough for the Academy voters. Therefore, the Philippine's quest to that elusive recognition remains a dream to our filmmakers. - Philippine Entertainment Portal