Birdshot is a 2016 Philippine coming-of-age thriller film written, directed and edited by Mikhail Red. Starring Mary Joy Apostol, Arnold Reyes, Ku Aquino, and John Arcilla, its story revolves around a farm girl (Apostol) in the countryside, who unwittingly kills a Philippine eagle (an endangered species locally known as the haribon), and two police officers (Reyes and Arcilla) assigned to track down the haribon's killer while investigating the mysterious disappearance of a busload of farmers en route to Manila.
The film was selected as the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. Birdshot is the first Filipino film released worldwide by Netflix.
Plot Diego Mariano (Ku Aquino) is the caretaker of the land surrounding a forest sanctuary. He is the father of 14-year-old Maya (Mary Joy Apostol), whose mother died in childbirth. Maya wants to explore the land beyond the family's isolated shack. Diego wants his daughter to be self-sufficient, so he teaches her how to fire a gun. After failing her first shooting lessons, Maya wanders into the forest with her father's double-barreled shotgun and deliberately kills a Philippine eagle, an endangered animal.
Meanwhile, newly-recruited police officer Domingo (Arnold Reyes) goes to the area to investigate the mysterious disappearance of farmers en route to Manila on a bus, but is ordered to stop. Domingo's partner Mendoza (John Arcilla) and their commander De la Paz (Dido de la Paz) believe that Domingo should focus on finding the killer of the Philippine eagle instead.
Cast Mary Joy Apostol as Maya Arnold Reyes as Domingo John Arcilla as Mendoza Ku Aquino as Diego Angie Ferro as Lola
Production Birdshot was directed by Mikhail Red, who wrote the screenplay with his cousin, Rae Red. Red was also the film editor opposite Jay Halili. The cinematographer was Mycko David. The music used in the film was composed by Teresa Barrozo.
Red and his cousin began writing the script in 2014. Producer Pamela L. Reyes submitted it to the Doha Film Institute, which granted production funding for the film in early 2015. After winning the CJ Entertainment Award at the Busan Film Festival's Asian Project Market, other investors granted funding, including TBA Studios. The film project was selected at the Festival des 3 Continents' Produire au Sud workshop to improve Birdshot and its screenplay. Birdshot'''s PelikulaRED studio (owned by Reyes and Red) managed to co-produce the film with Tuko Film Productions and Buchi Boy Productions. The total budget of the film was .
Red was inspired by a shooting incident in 2008, where a three-year-old Philippine eagle was shot and cooked by a Bukidnon farmer in Mount Kitanglad. Principal photography lasted for 23 days. Scenes were shot in the provinces of Isabela and Rizal, as well as at the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Davao City.
The color red is a prominent element in the film, signifying important scenes and details.
ReleaseBirdshot was first screened at film festivals outside the Philippines before it was screened in the country. The film made its debut at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was screened in 14 other film festivals before it made its local debut at the 13th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in August of the following year.
The film was also screened as one of the twelve official entries at the 1st Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
It was acquired by streaming service Netflix and released on the platform on March 26, 2018, in all available countries. Birdshot became the first Filipino-produced film to be made available on Netflix Philippines.
Reception In a review for Variety, film critic Richard Kuipers described Birdshot'' as a “gripping combination of police procedural and coming-of-age drama”, and noted that its social commentary evokes the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. He also praised Apostol’s performance as “impressive” and highlighted Teresa Barrozo’s “haunting soundscapes”.
Accolades The film won Best Picture in the Asian Future category at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival and was selected for the Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award at the Goteborg Film Festival. + Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Adelaide Festival 2017 Best Feature Mikhail Red ASEAN Film Awards 2017 Best Actress Mary Joy Apostol Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts 2017 Best Asian Film Birdshot FAMAS Award 2018 Best Picture Birdshot Best Director Mikhail Red Best Supporting Actor John Arcilla Best Cinematography Mycko David Best Production Design Michael N. Español Gawad Urian Award 2018 Best Film "Pinakamahusay na Pelikula" Birdshot Best Direction "Pinakamahusay na Direksyon" Mikhail Red Best Supporting Actor "Pinakamahusay na Pangalawang Aktor" John Arcilla Arnold Reyes Best Cinematography "Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya" Mycko David Best Sound "Pinakamahusay na Tunog" Aian Caro Luna Award 2018 Best Supporting Actor John Arcilla Ku Aquino Best Cinematography Mycko David Best Editing Jay Halili, Mikhail Red Palm Springs International Film Festival 2018 Best Foreign Language Film Mikhail Red Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2017 Critics Choice Award Birdshot PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2018 Indie Movie of the Year Birdshot Indie Movie Director of the Year Mikhail Red Movie Supporting Actor of the Year Ku Aquino Arnold Reyes New Movie Actress of the Year Mary Joy Apostol Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Rae Red, Mikhail Red Indie Movie Cinematographer of the Year Mycko David Indie Movie Production Designer of the Year Michael N. Español Indie Movie Editor of the Year Jay Halili, Mikhail Red Indie Movie Musical Scorer of the Year Teresa Barrozo Indie Movie Sound Engineer of the Year Alex Tomboc, Lamberto Casas Jr. The EDDYS 2018 Best Picture Birdshot Best Director Mikhail Red Best Actress Mary Joy Apostol Best Supporting Actor Arnold Reyes Best Cinematography Mycko David Best Production Design Michael N. Español Best Editing Jay Halili, Mikhail Red Tokyo International Film Festival 2016 Asian Future Best Film Award Birdshot
See also List of submissions to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film List of Philippine submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
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