Lav Diaz | |
|---|---|
 Diaz at the2025 Cannes Film Festival | |
| Born | Lavrente Indico Diaz (1958-12-30)December 30, 1958 (age 67) |
| Other names | Bahagharing Timog[2] |
| Occupations |
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| Notable work | |
Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic.[3] He is known as one of the key practitioners of theslow cinema genre, producing a diverse range oflong narrative films that explore social and political issues,minimalistic storytelling,long takes and cinematic form.
Diaz started making films in the late 1990s. His first international exposure was at theHong Kong International Film Festival in 1999 with his directorial debutSerafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion (The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion). His first notable works areBatang West Side andEvolution of a Filipino Family, both of which feature the expanded timespan that has become part of his cinematic trademark. His work caught the media attention with the European film festival run ofNorte, the End of History (2013), which was entered into theUn Certain Regard section of the2013 Cannes Film Festival and received much critical acclaim.
Diaz is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary Filipino filmmakers, with his subsequent films have likewise received positive critical attention and many awards:From What Is Before won theGolden Leopard at the 2014Locarno International Film Festival;A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery won theAlfred Bauer Prize (Silver Bear) at the66th Berlin International Film Festival; andThe Woman Who Left won theGolden Lion at the73rd Venice International Film Festival. He is a recipient of 2018'sFAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award and 2021'sNatatanging Gawad Urian (Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award).
Diaz was born inColumbio,Cotabato. His childhood was marked by theviolent conflicts between Muslim armed groups and thePhilippine government. Due to the dangerous situation, his family moved to the more peaceful town ofTacurong where he finished his high school education. Diaz graduated in 1980 with an economics degree fromNotre Dame University inCotabato City.[1]
Diaz went toManila where he began doing odd jobs for various publications and took up writing about music and film for a living. Then, he became a production assistant forBalintataw. For a time, he wrotecomics as part of the editorial staff forAng Masa andWe Forum.[1]
After attending multiple film workshops, Diaz directed in 1985 his first film, a three-minuteSuper 8 mm short calledBanlaw (lit. 'Cleanse'), which depicts an idealist young man inspired bya self-immolating Buddhist to protest theMarcos regime in a similar manner.[4] After thePeople Power Revolution in 1986, Diaz worked as a critic for theManila Standard newspaper in the late 1980s, during which time he directed his second short film,Step No, Step Yes, in 1988.[4] His Filipino-language short story, "Pula, Puti at Saka Blu at Marami Pang Kolor" (lit. 'Red, White and Also Blue and Many Other Colors'), which he wrote under the pseudonym Bahagharing Timog (lit. 'Southern Rainbow'), won 2nd place at the1990 Palanca Awards under the category of Short Story - Filipino. Diaz later moved toNew York City to further study filmmaking.[5]
He has won several international awards such as the award for Best Picture at the Singapore International Film Festival, the Independent Film Festival of Brussels andGawad Urian in 2002 and Netpac Jury Prize and Best Acting Ensemble (2001 Cinemanila International Film Festival) for his filmBatang West Side (including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Music, Best Sound at the Urian), in Gawad Urian in 2005 for the filmEbolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino (Evolution of a Filipino Family), and Special Jury Prize at the Fribourg International Film Festival in 2006 forHeremias, Book One.
His films often tackle the issues regarding the current social and political state of the Philippines. His filmKagadanan sa Banwaan ning mga Engkanto (Death in the Land of Encantos), the Closing Film of the orizzonti section of the Venice Film Festival 2007, was awarded with a Golden Lion Special Mention.Death in the Land of Encantos was also in competition at the Artistic Innovation Award (Visions) of the Toronto International Film Festival 2007. He has threePalanca Memorial Awards for Literature recognitions (a second place (1990) and an honorable mention (1991) for short stories, and third place (1997) for screenplay).[6] His filmMelancholia won the Orizzonti Grand Prize at the65th Venice International Film Festival in 2008. In January 2011, he joined the board of directors forCine Foundation International.[7]
He went back in 2011 at the Venice International Film Festival for his filmSiglo ng Pagluluwal (Century of Birthing)[8] and which earned the Grand Jury Prize at the13th Cinemanila International Film Festival. The following year, his filmFlorentina Hubaldo, CTE won Best Asian Film at theJeonju International Film Festival[9] and gained the On-Screen Award at theImages Festival.[10]
His 2013 filmNorte, the End of History was screened in theUn Certain Regard section of the66th Cannes Film Festival.[11] He received theGolden Leopard at the 2014Locarno International Film Festival forFrom What Is Before. At the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival, his filmA Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery was awarded theSilver BearAlfred Bauer Prize. In the same year, he also received theGolden Lion at the73rd Venice International Film Festival forThe Woman Who Left.
Diaz has made crime stories, ghost stories and a musical. On the topic of genre Diaz has said, "It’s nice to dwell on genres because there are formulas there and you can work with them. But at the same time you’re free to break them."[12]
He is a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2010, the Prince Claus Award of the Netherlands in 2014 and The Radcliffe Fellowship of Harvard University, 2016–2017.
Diaz was invited by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to join as a member in July 2017.[13]
Diaz presented his film,Essential Truths of the Lake, a sequel toWhen the Waves Are Gone, at the2023 Locarno Film Festival out of competition.[14] Diaz's film,Phantosmia, premiered as an out-of-competition entry in the81st Venice International Film Festival, his 8th film for the festival.[15] He mostly recently premiered his filmMagellan starringGael García Bernal at2025 Cannes Film Festival out of competition. The film was selected as the Philippines' submission for the98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category.[16] He made his acting debut in an upcoming psychological horror filmThe Sacrifice along with castLovi Poe,Timothy Granaderos andEnchong Dee.
In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Diaz signed an open letter published inLibération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.[17][18][19]
| Year | English title | Original title | Credited as | Notes | Length | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | Cinematographer | |||||
| 1984 | 'Merika | No | No | No | No | No | Served as uncredited assistant director[4] | ||
| 1991 | Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway | No | Yes | No | No | No | Co-written with Tony Mortel, Jose F. Bartolome andManny Buising | 110 min (1:50) | |
| Daddy Goon | No | Yes | No | No | No | Co-written with Jose F. Bartolome and Rodolfo T. Meyer | 107 min (1:47) | ||
| 1993 | Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo Hahanapin Kita | No | Yes | No | No | No | Co-written with Henry Nadong | 103 min (1:43) | |
| 1997 | Adarna: The Mythical Bird | No | No | No | No | No | Awarded in 2006 for his contribution to the film[20] | ||
| 1998 | The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion | Serafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Directorial debut[21] | 132 min (2:12) |
| 1999 | Burger Boys | Yes | No | No | No | No | [22] | 112 min (1:52) | |
| Naked Under the Moon | Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | [23] | 110 min (1:50) | |
| 2001 | West Side Avenue | Batang West Side | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | [24] | 315 min (5:15) |
| 2002 | Hesus the Revolutionary | Hesus, Rebolusyonaryo | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | [22] | 112 min (1:52) |
| Headless | Pugot | No | No | No | No | Yes (interior) | Short film Also lead actor[25][26][27] | 15 min (00:15) | |
| 2004 | Evolution of a Filipino Family | Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | [28] | 624 min (10:24) |
| 2006 | Heremias (Book One: Legend of the Lizard Princess) | Heremias (Unang Aklat: Ang Alamat ng Prinsesang Bayawak) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 519 min (8:39) | |
| 2007 | Death in the Land of Encantos | Kagadanan sa Banwaan ning Mga Engkanto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | [29] | 541 min (9:01) |
| 2008 | Melancholia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also composer[30] | 447 min (7:27) | |
| 2009 | Butterflies Have No Memories | Walang Alaala ang mga Paru-Paro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | [31] | 61 min (1:01) |
| 2011 | Woman of the Wind | Babae ng Hangin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Incomplete | |
| Century of Birthing | Siglo ng Pagluluwal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | also composer[32] | 359 min (5:59) | |
| Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution | Elehiya sa Dumalaw Mula sa Himagsikan. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | [33] | 80 min (1:20) | |
| 2012 | Florentina Hubaldo, CTE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | [34] | 366 min (6:06) | |
| 2013 | Norte, the End of History | Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | co-written with Rody Vera;[35] Nominated -Best International Film at the2015 Independent Spirit Awards. Nominated -Un Certain Regard at the2013 Cannes Film Festival. | 250 min (4:10) |
| 2014 | From What Is Before | Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | WinnerGolden Leopard at the2014 Locarno Film Festival[35] | 339 min (5:39) |
| Storm Children: Book One | Mga Anak ng Unos: Unang Aklat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Documentary[36] | 143 min (2:23) | |
| 2015 | The Day Before the End | Fragment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | "Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas..." segment[37] | 130 hr (2:10) (film); 16 min (segment) |
| 2016 | A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery | Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Premiered at2016 Berlin Film Festival In Competition[38] | 489 min (8:09) |
| The Woman Who Left | Ang Babaeng Humayo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Adapted from the short story "God Sees the Truth, But Waits" byLeo Tolstoy. WinnerGolden Lion at the2016 Venice Film Festival[39] | 229 min (3:49) | |
| 2018 | Season of the Devil | Ang Panahon ng Halimaw | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Also composer. Premiered at2018 Berlin Film Festival in Competition | 234 min (3:54) |
| Journey | Lakbayan | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | "Hugaw/Dirt" segment[40] | 118 min (1:58) | |
| 2019 | The Halt | Ang Hupa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | [41] | 283 min (4:43) |
| Mañanita | No | Yes | No | No | No | [42] | |||
| 2020 | Genus Pan | Lahi, Hayop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Re-edited material from an abandoned 2014 feature film. | 157 min (2:37) |
| 2021 | History of Ha | Historya ni Ha | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | [43] | 273 min (4:33) |
| 2022 | A Tale of Filipino Violence | Isang Salaysay ng Karahasang Pilipino | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Adapted fromRicardo Lee's short story and screenplay of "Servando Magdamag"; premiered at FidMarseillse. | 409 min (6:49) |
| When the Waves Are Gone | Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Premiered at the79th Venice International Film Festival, out of competition | 187 min (3:07) | |
| 2023 | Essential Truths of the Lake | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Premiered at the76th Locarno Film Festival | 215 min (3:35) | |
| 2024 | Phantosmia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Premiered at the81st Venice International Film Festival, out of competition[15] | 245 min (4:05) | |
| 2025 | Magellan | Magalhães | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Premiered at the2025 Cannes Film Festival[44] | 156 min (2:36) |
| TBA | Kawalan | Yes | Yes | N/a | Yes | Yes | Post-production | ||
| Henrico's Farm | Yes | Yes | N/a | Yes | Yes | ||||
| The Sacrifice | No | No | No | No | No | Post-production; as actor only | |||
| An Amazon | Yes | Yes | N/a | N/a | N/a | Pre-production, first work in English[45] | |||
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | Ref(s). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | ||||
| 1989, 1991 | Balintataw | No | Yes | "Iskolar" two-part episode; "Lenny" episode | [46][47] |
...isinulat ni Lav Indico Diaz na nagtatago sa sagisag na Bahagharing Timog.
Last October 2003, Indiefilipino.com held two screenings ofKhavn's filmsMemory Before Dawn (Alaala Ng Madaling Araw) (1996) andHeadless (Pugot) (2002)[...]
Written by Lav Diaz.
The script was written by Marcelino Cavestany and Lav Diaz...
