'Magellan,' 'Song of the Fireflies' vie for Golden Globe nods

Two outstanding movies from the Philippines—Lav Diaz's "Magellan" and King Palisoc's "Song of the Fireflies"—are vying for nominations at the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards, the first major award show of the season.

Both films, which have won critical acclaim and awards internationally, are hopeful that they would make the cut when the nominations are announced on Monday, December 8, 2025 at the Beverly Hilton.

"Magellan," which had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year, was selected as the Philippines' entry to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.

The historical drama written, directed and co-edited by Diaz, stars Gael Garcia Bernal as Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and depicts his role in the Portuguese and Spanish colonial campaigns in Southeast Asia in the early 16th century. It is Diaz's shortest film at two hours and 45 minutes, and his first film that is not in the Tagalog language. It is spoken in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Cebuano.

Aside from Bernal, it also stars Angela Azevedo as Maria Caldera Beatriz Barbosa, Amado Arjay Babon as Enrique de Malaca, Ronnie Lazaro as Rajah Humabon, and Hazel Orencio as Juana.

Recently, it won the Golden Spike award, the top prize for the best feature-length film at the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI) in Valladolid, Spain.

"Song of the Fireflies" by Palisoc and written by Angelo Lacuesta, is based on a true story that follows a provincial teacher, Alma Taldo, who transforms the members of the Loboc Children's Choir into an internationally acclaimed singing group from the rural town of Loboc in Bohol.

Singer Morissette Amon, in her big screen debut, portrays Alma Taldo. Also in the cast are singer-actress-producer Rachel Alejandro as Equet, Noel Comia, Jr. as Herbert, Krystal Brimmer as Jackie and Chai Fonacier as teacher Baby.

The film recently won Best International Feature Audience Award at this year's Newport Beach Film Festival.

We were able to interview by email both Diaz (for "Magellan") and Alejandro (for "Song of the Fireflies") about their journeys with their respective films and their experiences during this festival and awards season.

Lav Diaz (director, writer, editor, "Magellan")

Photo: Gian Barbarona

Can you please talk about the significance of "Magellan" winning at the Valladolid Film Festival?

It's great for Philippine cinema. Most of the cinema heavyweights this year were there, so cool, albeit any of the films could win naman, it just depends on who comprises the Jury, their taste. They'd been requesting me to attend, but there's really no chance to go, ang daming gawain sa aking palayan at maisan, naaawa rin ako sa orchard ko. Of course, it would have been nice to be there, to receive the award for the country; it's SEMENCI (Valladolid International Film Festival) and it's their 70th year; it's really one of the oldest film festivals with a great tradition of showcasing great cinemas from all over the world.

"Magellan" is not only the Philippines' entry to the Oscars but also will be competing for the Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language. How are you handling this awards season? How do you feel? Do you feel any pressure?

I'm cool. We're playing it cool. We're doing our part, doing the festival circuit tour, some special screenings in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities in America. There's another round of promotions and campaigning in the first two weeks of January. I'm not used to these kinds of activities, but I'm fine with it, it's a responsibility, the sacrifice is all for Philippine cinema, for the country, for our people's pride. Admittedly, we don't really have many resources, in terms of money, and there's a dearth of support, but we're just lucky we have a great distributor like Janus Films of North America. Janus has a simple and effective way of programming the film's campaign. The Filipino producers are working hard as well. Other countries are campaigning with staggering amounts of money and support, it's mind-blowing.

What are your future plans with "Magellan," the "long" version?

There shall be another film from what we'd shot, because we shot a lot, for six months. It could run five hours, or maybe, nine hours. Again, it is another film and not really a longer version. It's sui generis. Right now, we're working on this title: "Reparations Now for the Colonized!"

Rachel Alejandro (actress, producer, "Song of the Fireflies")

Contributed photo

Your "little film," "Song of the Fireflies," has been winning awards, with the most recent one at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Can you please tell us the significance of these awards for you and the film?

These awards have made all the difference. Just 11 months ago, "Song of the Fireflies" which we completed principal photography for in early 2023, was dead in the water, with no plan for even a theatrical release. Our investor partners at that time thought that at best, it would go straight to streaming, and even with that, there was no clear path forward.

Our friend and public relations expert, Harry Hartman, encouraged us to submit our film to the Manila International Film Festival in Hollywood. Not knowing if we were even eligible, we did. Just a few months later, we swept the awards at MIFF including a Best Picture win. It has been traveling around global festivals since, with a Platinum Remi Award from WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, sold-out screenings everywhere we go, and best of all. Not only did we show in cinemas in our home country, but we are also currently touring Philippine schools.

As for the recognition for Best International Feature Audience Award at Newport Beach Festival, which we learned about just days ago, we are so elated, grateful, and even more enthused to vie for our lofty goal of bagging Golden Globes nominations.

Why is "Song of the Fireflies" a passion project for you since you are also a producer aside from being an actress in the movie?

For me personally, nothing has been more fulfilling than to see, firsthand, young Filipinos being inspired and delighted by our film. I am now based in New York, but on my brief trip back home recently, I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A for students of OB Montessori Center, my alma mater. It was a beautiful, full-circle moment for me. The kids were so engrossed in the story, cheered loudly for our teenage leads, Noel Comia Jr. and Krystal Brimner, and asked the cutest questions afterwards.

I carry my late father, Philippine music industry legend, Hajji Alejandro's legacy proudly within me. In my mind's eye, as if it has already happened for real, I see clearly the Loboc Children's Choir and our leads singing "Alitaptap" (Fireflies), created by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab and Sarge Lacuesta, with angelic voices on the Beverly Hilton stage of the Golden Globes, being broadcast all over the world.

At this stage in my very long career, as a Filipino American, it has become my advocacy to shine a bright light on Filipino artistry, especially our music and powerful singing voices. Our voices are not just powerful because of our ability to sustain notes beautifully, but the way they can move people. That's the magic you will find in "Song of the Fireflies."

How are you handling the pressure of doing the festival circuit and what have you been learning by joining them?

My co-producer Girlie Rodis and I are truly grateful for the accolades, but the pressure is real. The submission process for some of these awards is very meticulous and technical. We are pretty much a two-man team for our film in the festival circuit so our responsibilities are endless—from selling tickets, inviting press, engaging the Philippine consulate generals to get the community involved to, I have to say, the most stressful of all: fundraising! Submitting to, attending festivals, and marketing a film are costly, to say the least.

I should say that while Tita Girlie Rodis and I are a two-man team, like I said, we are supported by so many kindhearted souls who have either given much-needed sponsorships, guidance, or shared their home with us during our journey. I have a friend from out-of- state who bought tickets for her family members in LA to see our screening just to support us.

What I have learned is that the Filipino "bayanihan spirit" is alive and well, and while there is much to be worried about when we read the news, and this may sound naive, I am still hopeful that those whose hearts are pure and good will triumph in the end. The kindnesses I have been extended daily have convinced me of that.

What is your next project?

I'm starting to work on a new script with "Song of the Fireflies" screenwriter Sarge Lacuesta that I see as a musical mini-series with soundtrack. This is on top of a myriad of different live original musical projects that our company, Culturtain Musicat Productions, along with our partner Celeste Legaspi, is embarking on for the next few years.

I am also currently in Seattle shooting a short film written and directed by a young Filipino American, titled "Diwata", where I play an 80-year-old grandma. This is the second short I have done this year as I continue to audition and wait for my big break here in the US. Haha. Come on. Nothing is impossible, even at my age!

The Golden Globe Awards will air on January 11, 2026 on the CBS Television Network and will broadcast live from Beverly Hilton. —MGP, GMA Integrated News