Philippines hosts first International Emmy judging session

MANILA, Philippines — The Film Academy of the Philippines hosted a semi-final round of judging for the 2026 International Emmy Awards in Manila on Aug. 12, in what the academy described as the first in-person judging session for the awards held in the Philippines.

The session, focused on the Arts Programming category, brought together Philippine and international television and audiovisual industry professionals.

An International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences representative oversaw the judging, according to the Film Academy of the Philippines .

The judging panel assembled by the Film Academy included directors Ruel Bayani, Jade Castro and Jet Leyco; musician Bullet Dumas; animator Avid Liongoren; broadcast journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala; producer Maricel Ticar-Santos; and Cultural Center of the Philippines President Kaye Tinga.

The semi-final round is a stage in the International Emmy Awards competition in which entries from outside the United States are evaluated across multiple categories.

The academy said nominees for the 2026 awards are expected to be announced in September, with the awards ceremony scheduled for Nov. 23 in New York City.

“We are honored to host a Semi-Final Round of judging for the 2026 International Emmy® Awards. Our mission is to amplify the Filipino filmmakers’ cinematic merits by positioning them on the world stage,” Film Academy of the Philippines Director-General Paolo Villaluna said.

The Film Academy said its mandate is to advance the professionalization, skills development, recognition and protection of workers in the Philippine audiovisual industry.

It also said it works with industry guilds, provides training and development programs, recognizes excellence, and advocates for the rights and welfare of audiovisual workers.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presents the annual International Emmy Awards to recognize television programming produced outside the United States.

The awards cover categories including Drama Series, Comedy, Documentary, Kids: Animation, News, Non-Scripted Entertainment, acting, and Short-Form Series.

The academy also presents the International Emmy Directorate Award and the Founders Award.

The International Academy also organizes industry events, business forums and networking activities involving television professionals from more than 60 countries, according to the Film Academy.

The Manila judging session gives Philippine industry professionals a role in an international awards process while placing the country’s audiovisual sector in a broader global television context.