The Academy Award is presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in the film industry. Since its establishment, a number of Filipinos (including those of dual citizenship and heritage) have been shortlisted, nominated and eventually won the award in terms of film production, but rarely on acting roles.

In 1994, Ariel Velasco-Shaw became the first Filipino nominated in any category, being recommended for Best Visual Effects for The Nightmare Before Christmas. In 2010, God of Love directed by Luke Matheny and produced by Filipino Americans Gigi Dement, Stephen Dypiangco, and Stefanie Walmsley won for the Best Live Action Short Film. In 2011, Hailee Steinfield became the first Filipino American nominated in terms of acting performance. In 2023, after earning nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and 76th British Academy Film Awards, actress Dolly de Leon was considered a serious contender for the Academy Awards. However, she was not nominated in the end but was instead invited instead to be an Academy member. In March 2026, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first female and first Filipino American to win for Best Cinematography. In September 2026, Australia submitted the 2025 Filipino-language film First Light, written and directed by James J. Robinson, as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. The Philippine-themed animated film Forgotten Island, directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, is predicted to be nominated for the 99th Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

As of 2026, there have been seventeen nominations, two shortlists and five wins. Filipinos around the world continue to hope and speculate who will be next – among those favored include Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, Isabel Sandoval, James J. Robinson, Lou Diamond Phillips, Darren Criss, John Arcilla, Vanessa Hudgens, Dave Bautista, Bruno Mars, Jessica Sanchez, Nicole Scherzinger, Nico Santos, Rob Schneider, Jo Koy, Manny Jacinto, Brandon Perea, Jacob Batalon, Liza Soberano, Gordon Cormier, Jon Jon Briones, Mark Dacascos, Conrad Ricamora, Clint Ramos and Lea Salonga.

Performance Best Supporting Actress

Actress in a Supporting Role Year Name Film Role StatusMilestone / Notes 2011 Hailee Steinfield(1996–) True Grit Mattie Ross First American actress of Filipino descent nominated for an Academy Award. Steinfield's maternal grandfather was from Panglao, Bohol. 2022 Dolly de Leon(1969–) Triangle of Sadness Abigail First Filipino nominated both in Golden Globe Awards and British Academy Film Awards.

Production Best Picture

Best Picture Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2026 Zinzi Evans-Coogler(1985–) Sinners Evans-Coogler has a Filipino mother.

Best Original Screenplay

Original Screenplay Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2015 Ronnie del Carmen(1959–) Inside Out First Filipino citizen nominated for an Academy Award. Del Carmen was born in Cavite City and graduated from the University of Santo Tomas.

Best Short Film (Live Action)

Short Film (Live Action) Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2005 Pia Clemente(1970–) Our Time Is Up Born in the Philippines, Clemente is the first Filipino-American nominated in the live action short film category.

Best Short Film (Animated)

Short Film (Animated) Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2016 Robertino Zambrano(1975–) Love in the Time of March Madness Zambrano was born in Quezon City, and moved to Sydney, Australia, as a child.2019 Trevor Jimenez(1983–) Weekends Jimenez, who grew up in Ontario, Canada, has a Filipino mother. Bobby Pontillas(1980–) One Small Step Pontillas was raised primarily in Washington by his Filipino mother from Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Best Music (Original Song)

Original Song Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2014Robert Lopez(1975–) "Let It Go" from Frozen Lopez is partly of Filipino descent through his father. His paternal grandparents are Filipinos. 2018 "Remember Me" from Coco 2020 "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2 2021 Gabriella Wilson(known as H.E.R.)(1997–) "Fight for You" from Judas and the Black Messiah Wilson's mother is a Filipino from Nueva Ecija. 2024 Olivia Rodrigo(2003–) "Can't Catch Me Now" from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Rodrigo, whose paternal grandparents and great-grandparents emigrated from the Philippines, identifies as a Filipino American.

Best Production Design Production Design Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2018 Paul Denham Austerberry(1966–) The Shape of Water Austerberry has a British-born Canadian father and a Filipino mother.

Best Cinematography

Cinematography Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2011Matthew Libatique(1968–) Black Swan Born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City to Filipino immigrant parents, Libatique's father is from Dagupan and his mother is from Lucena. 2019 A Star Is Born 2024 Maestro 2026 Autumn Durald Arkapaw(1979–) Sinners Arkapaw's maternal grandfather was from Pampanga, a resistance fighter during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Makeup and Hairstyling Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 2022 Frederic Aspiras(1976–) House of Gucci Aspiras is of Vietnamese and Filipino descent.

Best Visual Effects Visual Effects Year Name Film StatusMilestone / Notes 1994 Ariel Velasco-Shaw(1962–) The Nightmare Before Christmas First Filipino nominated for an Academy Award in any category. Velasco-Shaw was born in Manila.

"In Memoriam"

In the annual Academy Awards gala, an "In Memoriam" segment is added to honor and pay tribute to the actors, directors, writers, producers, designers and executives from the global film community who have died in the preceding year. Though technically not an award in itself, it is considered an "honor" to be included because of its highly selective, official acknowledgment from the global film industry. As of 2026, two Filipinos were honored.

"In Memoriam" Year Name Career Film(s)Milestone / Notes 2025 Jaclyn Jose(1963–2024) Actress The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) Serbis (2009) Ma' Rosa (2016) First and only Filipino to win the 2016 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. 2026 Mike de Leon(1947–2025) Director; Cinematographer; Editor Manila in the Claws of Light (1975) Sister Stella L. (1984) Citizen Jake (2018) Regarded as one of the most significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema.

See also List of Philippine submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

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