Panoramanila’s debut film Ploning, which stars Judy Ann Santos, has been chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines as the official entry to the 2009 Oscar Awards’ best foreign language film category.

Directed by Dante Nico Garcia and shot entirely in Cuyo, Palawan, Ploning tells the story of a barrio lass who awaits the return of her long lost beau, Tomas, and how she touches the lives of the people around her: the boy who looks up to her as a surrogate mother; the nurse who arrives in the island in search of the man she loves; the simple-minded girl who awaits her own husband’s return; the half-paralyzed mother who cannot take care of her own son.

During the film academy’s deliberation on the entry selection, Ploning was in a tight spot with Caregiver, the Sharon Cuneta starrer about a Filipina teacher who goes to London to work in an elderly home. The two productions were part of the six-film shortlist reviewed by the five-member special committee, along with Cinemalaya festival winner Tribu, Endo, Pisay, and Serbis, which was the Philippine entry to the last Cannes Film Festival.

Ploning opened in Ontario, Canada, earlier in August and will run in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Ontario until September 18. Schedules for Canada showing appear here.

Related stories:
Juday to Star in Panoramanila’s First Film
Judy Ann Santos and Friends Go All Out for Ploning
Discovering Cuyo, Palawan
Ploning Opens This Month
Juday to Star in Panoramanila’s First Film