Erik Matti's 'On the Job: The Missing 8' is Philippines' Pick for 2023 Oscars International Feature Film Category

Erik Matti’s film “On the Job: The Missing 8” has been selected by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Director’s Guild of the Philippines (DCPI) as the country’s official entry to the 95th Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars).

In a Facebook post on Friday, Sept. 30, the FDCP said the film will be submitted to the 2023 Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category (formerly called Best Foreign Language Film), an award given to a motion picture produced outside of the United States with a non-English language.

Written and directed by Erik Matti, “On the Job: The Missing 8” tackles the injustices in the Philippines during the brutal administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. It follows the story of Narciso “Sisoy” Salas, a journalist who investigates the sudden vanishing of his comrades in the media.

The crime thriller, which is a sequel to the 2013 Star Cinema movie “On the Job,” entered the main competition of the 78th Venice International Film Festival last year and won the “Volpi Cup for Best Actor” for John Arcilla’s exceptional acting performance.