LAV Diaz's critically acclaimed film "Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan" (Norte, The End of History) is the country's official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 87th Academy Awards.
The four-hour film tells the story of three people whose lives will turn upside down when one of them commits a crime.
"Norte" stars Sid Lucero as Fabian, a law student who is the perpetrator in the movie, Archie Alemania as Joaquin, the fall guy, and Angeli Bayani as Eliza, the struggling wife of the latter.
The film, which also features Soliman Cruz, Angelina Kanapi, Mae Paner and Hazel Orencio, was first shown at prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in May 2013.
It was also screened at Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and San Diego Asian Film Festival, among others, and was picked up for distribution in France, United States and the United Kingdom.
Locally, "Norte" was hailed Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography at the Gawad Urian. Bayani also took home the Best Actress trophy.
The 87th Academy Awards will announce the final films, which will compete in the said category in January while the awarding ceremony will take place on February 22 at the Dolphy Theatre in California. (Sunnex)