‘Iti Mapukpukaw’ triumphs at Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Screengrab from PROJECT 8 PROJECTS/YouTube
It was a monumental triumph for the Filipino animation industry when “Iti Mapukpukaw” (The Missing) won the Best Animated Film award at the 17th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, held over the weekend in Gold Coast, Australia.
Director Carl Joseph Papa accepted the award for the adult sci-fi animation film narrating the story of Eric, a mouthless animator grappling with the loss of his uncle and the enigmatic arrival of an alien.
In his acceptance speech, Papa thanked his team and dedicated the award to all Filipino animators.
“This award is for all the animators in the Philippines and to all the Eric’s in the world,” he said. “It is bittersweet to receive this honor. We have created only 15 animated feature films, but this shows our potential for more.”
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Carlo Aquino portrays Eric, who embarks on a poignant journey of facing suppressed memories. He is prompted by his mother to visit his uncle, which leads to the return of an alien he encountered in childhood, intent on taking him away from Earth.
With a powerful plot that blends imaginative visuals with emotional profundity, the film has won numerous awards, including Best Feature Film award at the 17th International Animated Film Festival in Poland. It was also an official selection at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival.
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“Iti Mapukpukaw” was selected as the Philippines’ official entry to the 2024 Oscars for Best International Feature but missed a spot on the shortlist.
The film not only amplified Filipino presence in global cinema when it debuted its international screening in California but also highlighted the “bittersweet” reality of an underfunded but thriving animation industry in the Philippines, as Papa said in his speech.
Earlier this year, “Iti Mapukpukaw” debuted on Netflix, bringing the critically acclaimed animated film to a wider global audience.
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