Birdshot Mikhail Red

Birdshot is a 2016 Philippine coming-of-age thriller film[1] 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.[2] Birdshot is the first Filipino film released worldwide by Netflix.[3]

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.[4]

• Mary Joy Apostol as Maya
• Arnold Reyes as Domingo
• John Arcilla as Mendoza
• Ku Aquino as Diego
• Angie Ferro as Lola

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.[5]

Red and his cousin began writing the script in 2014.[1] 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.[6] The total budget of the film was ₱14 million.[1]

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.[7] Scenes were shot in the provinces of Isabela[1] and Rizal, as well as at the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary in Davao City.[6]

The color red is a prominent element in the film, signifying important scenes and details.[7]

Birdshot 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.[1]

The film was also screened as one of the twelve official entries at the 1st Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

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”.[5]

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.[12]

• 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

1. ^ a b c d e Alpad, Christina (14 August 2017). "'Birdshot' hits big for Mikhail Red". The Manila Times. TMT. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
2. ^ "'Birdshot' is PH's Foreign Language Film entry to Oscars 2018". Rappler. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
3. ^ "Netflix acquires PH film Birdshot, Brillante Mendoza drug war series". CNN Philippines. March 24, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
4. ^ Cabana, Ysh (13 April 2018). "Film Review: 'Birdshot' in forbidden territory". The Philippine Reporter. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
5. ^ a b Kuipers, Richard (7 August 2017). "Film Review: 'Birdshot'". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
6. ^ a b "Filipino Film "BIRDSHOT" Competes In Tokyo International Film Festival". Orange Magazine. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
7. ^ a b Inocencio, Jason (14 August 2017). "Movie review: Mikhail Red's Birdshot is on target, featured at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino". Adobo Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
8. ^ "Official selection for 'Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino' revealed". GMA News Online. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
9. ^ Villano, Alexa (2017-06-30). "FULL LIST: Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino entries". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
10. ^ "'Birdshot' on Netflix". Sun Star Cebu. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
11. ^ San Diego, Bayani Jr. (27 March 2019). "Netflix lands 'Birdshot'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
12. ^ "Mikhail Red's Birdshot Opens the 13th Cinemalaya Film Fest on Aug 4 at the CCP". Cinemalaya. 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
13. ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (2017-09-02). "'Birdshot' goes to Adelaide". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
14. ^ Villano, Alexa (2017-11-30). "'Birdshot' actress Mary Joy Apostol wins Best Actress in ASEAN film awards". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
15. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (2017-10-29). "'Lion' Leads Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
16. ^ Villano, Alexa (2018-06-11). "FULL LIST: Winners, FAMAS awards 2018". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
17. ^ Abanilla, Clarizel (2018-05-22). "41st Gawad Urian nominees announced". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
18. ^ Nicolas, Jino (2018-09-27). "Larawan, Changing Partners, 7 Sundays are the top nominees in Saturday's Luna Awards". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
19. ^ "36th Luna Awards: 'Ang Larawan' named best picture; Aga wins for 'Seven Sundays'". ABS-CBN. 2018-09-29.
20. ^ Interaksyon (2017-08-21). "PPP honors 'Birdshot,' '100 Tula Para kay Stella,' 'Patay na si Hesus'". Interaksyon. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
21. ^ Abanilla, Clarizel (2018-02-08). "Full list of nominees for 34th Star Awards for Movies". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
22. ^ Villano, Alexa (2018-02-21). "WATCH: These movies won big at the 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
23. ^ Abanilla, Clarizel (2018-03-17). "2018 Eddy Awards official nominees released". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
24. ^ Calderon, Ricky. "Winners at the 2nd Eddys Awards". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
25. ^ Jr, Bayani San Diego (2016-11-03). "Paolo Ballesteros, 'Birdshot' win top prizes in Tokyo Film Fest". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2026-02-10.

• Official website
• Birdshot at IMDb
• Birdshot at Rotten Tomatoes