Carl Joseph Papa
Carl Joseph E. Papa is a Filipino filmmaker and animator. His films employ rotoscoping and unique animation techniques to explore the country's social and personal conflicts. His animated films have been screened at film festivals, and pioneered top honors during his lifetime including black tragicomedy Manang Biring (2015) and musical comedy-drama Paglisan (2018), both of which won him Best Film twice at Cinema One Originals Film Festival, and psychological drama science-fiction Iti Mapukpukaw (2023), won the Best Film at the 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
Carl Joseph Papa

Vera de Kok · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Birth Name
- Carl Joseph Echague Papa
- Birthplace
- Metro Manila, Philippines
- Occupation
- * Film director
- Nationality
- Philippines
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Carl Joseph E. Papa is a Filipino filmmaker and animator. His films employ rotoscoping and unique animation techniques to explore the country's social and personal conflicts. His animated films have been screened at film festivals, and pioneered top honors during his lifetime including black tragicomedy Manang Biring (2015) and musical comedy-drama Paglisan (2018), both of which won him Best Film twice at Cinema One Originals Film Festival, and psychological drama science-fiction Iti Mapukpukaw (2023), won the Best Film at the 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Carl Joseph Papa. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- unresolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q123111076 · wikipedia · Carl Joseph Papa
In this article
Biography
Biography
His recent film, 58th, was premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Carl Joseph Echague Papa • Birthplace — Metro Manila, Philippines • Alma Mater — UP Diliman • Occupation — * Film director • screenwriter • animator • Years Active — 2012–present
2012–2014
2012–2014
Originally intended as a software engineer when he was an alumnus of University of the Philippines and pursue his career as a Java consultant at Orange and Bronze Software Labs, Papa took filmmaking instead to develop cutout animated short films Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita (2012) and iNay (2013). He made his directorial debut live action film, the semi-autobiographical experimental drama The Unforgetting (2014), about a young woman's struggle to preserve happy memories and forgetting painful ones when her mother left. The film was screened at QCinema International Film Festival.
2015–present
2015–present
He gained local recognition for his adult animated films: Manang Biring, which won him the Best Film at the 2015 Cinema One Originals, the first animated film to do so, and Paglisan, which won him another Best Film at the 2018 Cinema One Originals. Iti Mapukpukaw garnered several awards, including Best Film at the 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and 47th Gawad Urian Awards, the first animated film to do so, and immense media attention for his submission as the Philippine entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards, the first animated film to be submitted by the Philippines. In his recent film, 58th, describes as a documentary about the Maguindanao massacre that took place in 2009. The film portrays Glaiza de Castro as Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo, a daughter of the disappeared photojournalist Reynaldo "Bebot" Momay, alongside Ricky Davao, Mikoy Morales, Biboy Ramirez, Marco Masa, and Zyren Dela Cruz are announced to be part of the cast line-up; it was Davao's last acting film prior to his death in May 2, 2025. In addition of directorial films, he is writing several live-action comedy films including Asuang (2018), Mang Jose (2021), and Boys at the Back (2024).
Upcoming projects
Upcoming projects
He is currently working on his animated film, Sentinel, set in a high school consumed by dark secrets.
Style and themes
Style and themes
With the exception of The Unforgetting and Homecoming, Papa's directorial films are entirely animated with different types of animation: cutout, child art, and rotoscoping. Each films have recorded in live-action or voice recording with storyboard process during pre-production before the animation process in post-production. Additionally, most directorial films have notable, well-known cast members including Cherry Pie Picache, Ian Veneracion, Eula Valdez, Khalil Ramos, Carlo Aquino, and Dolly de Leon. Papa's films explore social and personal conflicts that reflected the country's daily lives, most often including abandonment (The Unforgetting), cancer and death (Manang Biring), dementia and depression (Paglisan), incest and child sexual abuse (Iti Mapukpukaw), political corruption (58th), rape (The Next 24 Hours), and teenage pregnancy (iNay).
Television series
Television series
• Year — English title — Original title — Director — Writer — Editor — Notes — Ref. • 2021 — Puto — 2 episodes
Feature films
Feature films
• Year — English title — Original title — Director — Writer — Editor — Notes — Ref. • 2014 — The Unforgetting — Ang ‘Di Paglimot Ng Mga Ala-Ala — Directorial debut; also producer • 2015 — Old Woman Biring — Manang Biring — * Also animator * Actor: Dream Nurse • 2018 — The Leaving — Paglisan — * Also animation compositor and lyricist ("Hari ng kwento", "Buhay teatro", "Pagod na", "Ten Past Eleven") * Actor: Doctor • Asuang • 2021 — Mang Jose • 2023 — The Missing — Iti Mapukpukaw — * Also animation director, compositor, and flashback storyboard artist * Submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards • 2024 — Boys at the Back — Also story by • 2026 — 58th — Also animation director • TBA — Sentinel
Short films
Short films
• Year — English title — Original title — Director — Writer — Editor — Notes — Ref. • 2012 — The Princess, the Prince and Marlborita — Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita — Also producer, animator, cinematographer, and production designer • 2013 — Homecoming — Ti Panagawid — Also producer and cinematographer • Mother — iNay — Also producer, animator, cinematographer, and production designer • 2017 — Love Bites — Also production designer • 2025 — The Next 24 Hours
Film festivals awards
Film festivals awards
13 (including runner-up) wins out of 23 nominations • Film festival — Year — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. • Animahenasyon: The Philippine Animation Festival — 2018 — Grand Winner — Love Bites • Best Storytelling • Best in Technical • Best Production Design • Annecy International Animation Film Festival — 2024 — Contrechamp Grand Prix — Iti Mapukpukaw • Cinema One Originals Film Festival — 2015 — Best Film — Manang Biring • Best Director • Best Screenplay • Best Editing • Audience Award • Champion Bughaw Award • 2019 — Best Film — Paglisan • Best Director • Best Screenplay • Best Editing • Cinemanila International Film Festival — 2012 — Young Cinema Competition – Best Short Film) — Ang Prinsesa, ang Prinsipe at si Marlborita • 2013 — Ti Panagawid • Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival — 2023 — Best Film — Iti Mapukpukaw • NETPAC Full-length Feature Award • Fantasia International Film Festival — 2024 — Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation – Special Jury Mention (Best Animated Feature) — Iti Mapukpukaw • Audience Awards – Best Animated Feature • Osaka Asian Film Festival — 2024 — Grand Prix — Iti Mapukpukaw • Palm Springs International Film Festival — 2024 — FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film — Iti Mapukpukaw
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
1 win out of 2 nominations • Year — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. • 2016 — Best Animated Film — Manang Biring • 2024 — Iti Mapukpukaw
FAMAS Awards
FAMAS Awards
1 win out of 5 nominations • Year — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. • 2019 — Best Original Screenplay — Asuang • Best Original Song — Paglisan • 2024 — Best Director — Iti Mapukpukaw • Best Screenplay • Best Visual Effects
Gawad Urian Awards
Gawad Urian Awards
1 win out of 4 nominations • Year — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. • 2019 — Pinakamahusay na Direksyon (Best Director) — Paglisan • 2024 — Iti Mapukpukaw • Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula (Best Screenplay) • Pinakamahusay na Animasyon (Best Animation)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Villanueva, Angelica. Carl Joseph Papa’s ‘58th’ to premiere at 2026 Rotterdam International Film Festival. Manila Standard. 2025-12-19.
- 2.Carl Joseph Papa on Linkedin.
- 3.Carl Joseph E. Papa. iffr.com.
- 4.Ang Di Paglimot ng mga Alaala. QCinema International Film Festival.
- 5.Turner, Alix. An Interview With Carl Joseph Papa: The Missing. 25YL. 2024-01-08.
- 6.Lone animated entry "Manang Biring" wins Best Film at Cinema One Originals. adobo Magazine. 19 November 2015.
- 7.Aguilar, Krissy. 'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21 October 2018.
- 8.Variety. International Oscar Race: The Philippines Selects Gay Animation Film 'The Missing'.
- 9.Evangelista, Jessica Ann. Glaiza de Castro leads '58th,' film on Maguindanao massacre. inquirer.net. 2024-11-24.
- 10.Hawson, Fred. C1 Originals review: Mock mythology of 'Asuang'. October 19, 2018.
- 11.Mang Jose (2021). ClickTheCity.
- 12.Carl Joseph E. Papa. MONOMAX.
- 13.The Philippine Star. Visayan film nabs awards at Cinema One Originals. The Freeman. 16 November 2015.
- 14.LIST: 5 Pinoy films and series that prove animation is not just for children. Philstar Life.
- 15.Carl Joseph Papa. Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
- 16.Carl Joseph E. Papa. iffr.com.
- 17.Carl Joseph E. Papa - iNay (Mother).
- 18.These 4 Filipino Films Prove That Animation Deserves the Spotlight, Too - When In Manila. 2025-10-09.
- 19.Frater, Patrick. 'April' Takes Double Win at Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Variety. 2024-11-30.
- 20.Villano, Alexa. Full List: Nominees, 2019 FAMAS Awards. Rappler. 2019-03-18.
- 21.Villano, Alexa. Full List: Winners of the 2019 FAMAS Awards. Rappler. 2019-04-29.
- 22.Abad, Ysa. Full List: Nominees, 2024 FAMAS Awards. Rappler. 2024-05-07.
- 23.Full List: Winners, Gawad Urian 2019. Rappler. June 18, 2019.
- 24.Cerezo, Anna. Full List of Winners of 47th Gawad Awards. June 9, 2024.
- 25.Animahenasyon 2018 Winners - Facebook. Facebook. November 14, 2018.
- 26.Lang, Jamie. Annecy Unveils Anime-Heavy Competition Lineup and Special Presentations for 'Inside Out,' 'Moana,' 'Despicable Me' Sequels. Variety.
- 27.Santiago, Ervin. 'Manang Biring' wins best film sa 2015 Cinema One Film festival. Bandera. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 19 November 2015.
- 28.Aguilar, Krissy. 'Paglisan,' 'Never Tear Us Apart' win big at Cinema One Originals 2018. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 21 October 2018.
- 29.'Iti Mapukpukaw' tops Cinemalaya 2023 with 3 wins including Best Film. ABS-CBN News. August 13, 2023.
- 30.Hazelton, John. French epic 'The Count Of Monte-Cristo' named best film at Fantasia. Screen Daily. July 28, 2024.
- 31.Jeremy Kay, "‘Bookworm’ wins 2024 Fantasia audience award for best international film". Screen Daily, August 6, 2024.
- 32.Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024. March 10, 2024.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 25 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,604 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Carl GottliebPerson
- Carl GregoryPerson
- Carl HarbaughPerson
- Carl HegerPerson
- Carl LaemmlePerson
- Carl LumblyPerson
- Carl MillerPerson
- Carl RaddatzPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Carl Joseph Papa?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.