Lav Diaz

Early life

Diaz was born in Columbio, Cotabato. His childhood was marked by the violent conflicts between Muslim armed groups and the Philippine government. Due to the dangerous situation, his family moved to the more peaceful town of Tacurong where he finished his high school education. Diaz graduated in 1980 with an economics degree from Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.

Career

Diaz went to Manila 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 for Balintataw. For a time, he wrote comics as part of the editorial staff for Ang Masa and We Forum.

After attending multiple film workshops, Diaz directed in 1985 his first film, a three-minute Super 8 mm short called Banlaw (), which depicts an idealist young man inspired by a self-immolating Buddhist to protest the Marcos regime in a similar manner. After the People Power Revolution in 1986, Diaz worked as a critic for the Manila Standard newspaper in the late 1980s, during which time he directed his second short film, Step No, Step Yes, in 1988. His Filipino-language short story, "Pula, Puti at Saka Blu at Marami Pang Kolor" (), which he wrote under the pseudonym Bahagharing Timog (), won 2nd place at the 1990 Palanca Awards under the category of Short Story - Filipino. Diaz later moved to New York City to further study filmmaking.

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 and Gawad Urian in 2002 and Netpac Jury Prize and Best Acting Ensemble (2001 Cinemanila International Film Festival) for his film Batang 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 film Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino (Evolution of a Filipino Family), and Special Jury Prize at the Fribourg International Film Festival in 2006 for Heremias, Book One.

His films often tackle the issues regarding the current social and political state of the Philippines. His film Kagadanan 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 three Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature recognitions (a second place (1990) and an honorable mention (1991) for short stories, and third place (1997) for screenplay). His film Melancholia won the Orizzonti Grand Prize at the 65th Venice International Film Festival in 2008. In January 2011, he joined the board of directors for Cine Foundation International.

He went back in 2011 at the Venice International Film Festival for his film Siglo ng Pagluluwal (Century of Birthing) and which earned the Grand Jury Prize at the 13th Cinemanila International Film Festival. The following year, his film Florentina Hubaldo, CTE won Best Asian Film at the Jeonju International Film Festival and gained the On-Screen Award at the Images Festival.

His 2013 film Norte, the End of History was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 66th Cannes Film Festival. He received the Golden Leopard at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival for From What Is Before. At the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival, his film A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery was awarded the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize. In the same year, he also received the Golden Lion at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival for The 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."

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 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to join as a member in July 2017.

Diaz presented his film, Essential Truths of the Lake, a sequel to When the Waves Are Gone, at the 2023 Locarno Film Festival out of competition. Diaz's film, Phantosmia, premiered as an out-of-competition entry in the 81st Venice International Film Festival, his 8th film for the festival. He mostly recently premiered his film Magellan starring Gael García Bernal at 2025 Cannes Film Festival out of competition. The film was selected as the Philippines' submission for the 98th Academy Awards in the best international feature film category. He made his acting debut in an upcoming psychological horror film The Sacrifice along with cast Lovi Poe, Timothy Granaderos and Enchong Dee.

Political views

In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Diaz signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

Further publications

• Diaz, Lav. Batang West Side, Edition Filmmuseum, 2-disc set, 2022 Österreichisches Filmmuseum
• Guarneri, Michael. Conversations with Lav Diaz. Piretti - Bologna - 2021
• Corinne Maury, Olivier Zuchuat (dir.), Lav Diaz : faire face, Paris, Post Editions, 2022, 365 p.

References

1. Dormiendo, Gino. (December 7, 2000). "Lav Diaz vs mediocrity". The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc..
2. Lachica, Veneranda S.. (1994). "Komunikasyon at Linggwistika". Rex Book Store.
3. Diaz, Lav. (September 19, 1988). "Talagang nakakatakot". Manila Standard News, Inc..
4. Mendizabal, Adrian D.. (2021). "Early Periods: The Emergence of Lav Diaz's Long Durational Style". Pelikula: A Journal of Philippine Cinema.
5. Red, Isah V.. (July 25, 1999). "The truth about FPJ". Kamahalan Publishing Corp..
6. "Directory of Winners".
7. [http://cinefoundation.org/2010/12/board-of-directors/ Cinefoundation.org] {{webarchive. link. (July 7, 2014)
8. Jennings, Sheri. (August 18, 2011). "Venice Orizzonti adds Lav Diaz's Century of Birthing". Media Business Insight Limited.
9. (May 8, 2012). "Jeonju International Film Festival award winners announced". KOFIC.
10. "Images Festival Award Winners". Tucows Domains Inc..
11. (April 30, 2013). "2013 Official Selection". Cannes.
12. Cronk, Jordan. (March 26, 2018). "Berlin Interview: Lav Diaz".
13. (July 4, 2017). "Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza invited to U.S. Film Academy".
14. "Essential Truths Of The Lake".
15. Nepales, Ruben. (July 23, 2024). "Lav Diaz makes it to Venice Film Festival for 8th time with 'Phantosmia'".
16. (September 1, 2025). "Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan’ Sails to Oscar Waters as Philippines’ International Feature Entry".
17. (28 December 2023). "Gaza : des cinéastes du monde entier demandent un cessez-le-feu immédiat". [[Libération]].
18. Newman, Nick. (29 December 2023). "Claire Denis, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Christian Petzold, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More Sign Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza".
19. (31 December 2023). "Directors of cinema sign petition for immediate ceasefire". [[The Jerusalem Post]].
20. Samio, Veronica R.. (October 8, 2006). "Discovery ni Kuya Germs, bibigyan ng scholarship ni Josh Groban sa Yale Univ!". Philstar Global Corp..
21. Grenier, Pascal. (September 15, 2016). "3 Films by Lav Diaz".
22. (January 30, 2006). "A Conversation with Lav Diaz". Criticine.
23. (May 8, 2000). "Review: ''Naked Under the Moon''". [[Variety (magazine).
24. (July 31, 2002). "Review: ''Batang West Side''". [[Variety (magazine).
25. Slater, Ben. (May 10, 2004). "Asian Indies Make Impact Amidst Censorship At Singapore's 17th Film Fest". [[IndieWire]].
26. Tioseco, Alex. (February 2005). "Family Meals, Family Values, and Philippine Cinema: An Interview with Independent Filmmaker Khavn De la Cruz". Senses of Cinema.
27. "Headless (Pugot)".
28. Koehler, Robert. (September 28, 2004). "Review: ''Evolution of a Filipino Family''". [[Variety (magazine).
29. (October 2, 2007). "Review: ''Death in the Land of Encantos''". [[Variety (magazine).
30. (September 29, 2008). "Review: ''Melancholia''". [[Variety (magazine).
31. "''Butterflies Have No Memories''". Film Affinity.
32. (October 2, 2011). "Review: ''Century of Birthing''". [[Variety (magazine).
33. (September 11, 2011). "''Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution''". [[Screen Anarchy]].
34. (December 5, 2013). "Day 5 {{ndash}} ''Florentina Hubaldo'', CTE (Diaz)". The Art of Slow Cinema.
35. (September 5, 2014). "Film Review: ''From What Is Before''". [[Variety (magazine).
36. (January 19, 2015). "''Storm Children, Book One'' (''Mga Anak ng Unos, Unang Aklat''): Rotterdam Review". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
37. "''Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas''". [[Vienna International Film Festival]].
38. (September 9, 2016). "Berlin Film Review: ''A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery''". [[Variety (magazine).
39. (September 9, 2016). "Film Review: ''The Woman Who Left''". [[Variety (magazine).
40. (October 25, 2018). "'Lakbayan': Film Review {{!}} Tokyo 2018".
41. Romney, Jonathan. (May 24, 2019). "'The Halt': Cannes Review". Media Business Insight Limited.
42. Lo, Ricky. (October 21, 2019). "Why it took Paul Soriano 3 years to produce Mañanita". [[The Philippine Star.
43. (February 24, 2022). "Lav Diaz's language of love this Valentine's Day: a John Lloyd movie you can stream for free". [[ABS-CBN News]].
44. Goodfellow, Melanie. (2025-04-06). "Lav Diaz Hints At Cannes Debut For Ferdinand Magellan Film With Gael García Bernal; Reveals Near-Death Experience: "It Became A Personal Journey To Understanding Immortality"".
45. "Lav Diaz sets Alexandre Dumas adaptation as next film to be shot in Philippines". The Philippine Star.
46. (January 24, 1989). "'Iskolar' in Balintataw". Manila Standard News, Inc..
47. (December 29, 1991). "Remembering Lenny and His Fraternity". Kamahalan Publishing Corp..
48. "Batang West Side".
49. "2002: SGIFF 15".
50. "Heremias (Book One: Legend of the Lizard Princess)".
51. "Heremias (Book One: Legend of the Lizard Princess)".
52. "Lav Diaz – Orizzonti Winner: Best Director, Genus Pan, 2020".
53. "Lav Diaz's 'Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon' at the Venice Film Festival".
54. "Melancholia".
55. "Indie director Lav Diaz wins in Toronto fest".
56. "FILIPINO ENTRY WINS BEST FILM AT JEONJU FEST".
57. "Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan".
58. (August 16, 2014). "Filipino Director Lav Diaz Takes Home Top Prize in Locarno".
59. (February 18, 2016). "Eight-hour Berlin film focuses on Philippines revolution". Reuters.
60. "Lav Diaz's 'Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis' wins big at Berlin Int'l Film Festival".
61. (September 10, 2016). "The Woman Who Left wins Venice film festival as Nocturnal Animals runnerup".
62. "Ang Panahon ng Halimaw | Season of the Devil | in Zeiten des Teufels".
63. (September 14, 2020). "Lav Diaz wins Best Director at Venice Film Fest's Orizzonti section".
64. "IFFI 2022 winners list: I Have Electric Dreams wins big".
65. "The 70th Seminci awards the Golden Spike to 'The Mastermind' and 'Magallanes' ex aequo".