‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ to hit Netflix on Feb. 24
Ever curious about the many reasons why this film received awards and was submitted for the Oscars 2024? You’ll soon have your answers come February.
On Jan. 29, Netflix announced that the critically acclaimed Filipino-Ilocano animated film “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing) is set to arrive on the streaming platform on Feb. 24.
“We all just want to be found. Iti Mapukpukaw, the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed genre-bending film starring Carlo Aquino and Dolly de Leon, comes to Netflix this February 24,” reads their Instagram post.
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The film, which served as the Philippines’ entry to the Oscars 2024, is directed by Carl Joseph Papa. It won Best Film at Cinemalaya 2023, making history as the first animated film to do so.
The movie explores the depths of emotional resilience, following Eric (a Filipino animator without a mouth), as he embarks on a journey to unravel the mysteries of his past.
Starring Dolly De Leon and Carlo Aquino, the film looks at Eric’s life, triggered by the death of his uncle and the unexpected appearance of a familiar alien from his childhood dreams.
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While the film didn’t make the cut for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film shortlist, its Netflix release provides a global audience the chance to experience and delve into the film’s genre-bending perspective.
Recently, the film became one of the 13 contenders in the Osaka Asian Film Festival scheduled to take place from Mar. 1 to 10. Additionally, it has also been included in this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam.
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