Jun Lana

Rodolfo "Jun" Robles Lana Jr. (born October 10, 1972) is a Filipino filmmaker. The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2015, he directed the actual one-shot film, Shadow Behind The Moon, which won the Best Director, NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards at the 13th Pacific Meridian Film Festival. At the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala, he won the Best Director award for the same film.

Writing career He was born Rodolfo Lana Jr. in Makati, and attended local schools.

Interested in writing from an early age, he began to write and submit plays in Filipino language to competitions. He has adopted Jun Lana as his pen name. At age 19, he received an "Honorable Mention" citation in the 1991 Palanca Awards in the category Dulang May Isang Yugto (One-Act Play in Filipino), for his play Eksodo. The following year, Lana won Third Prize in the same category for Churchill.

In the next eight years, Lana won nine more Palanca Awards for his Filipino-language screenplays and teleplays, including First Prizes for the screenplays Karinyo-Brutal (1995) and Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw (1996); and for the teleplays Sa Daigdig ng mga Taksil (1995), and together with Peter Ong Lim, for Pula (1997).

In 2006, Lana's teleplay Milagrosa won his fifth First Prize Palanca Award and his 11th overall. With his fifth First Prize, Lana was inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame.

Film and television work

Since 1998, Lana has written screenplays for such directors as Marilou Diaz-Abaya Mel Chionglo and Maryo J. de los Reyes. His screenplay for Diaz-Abaya's Sa Pusod ng Dagat (1998) won Lana the Best Screenplay award from the Brussels European Film Festival|Brussels International Film Festival in 1998.

He has won two FAMAS Best Screenplay awards — in 1998 for Jose Rizal (shared with Ricky Lee and Peter Ong Lim) and in 1999 for Soltera (shared with Jerry Lopez Sineneng). His screenplay for Jose Rizal also won awards from the Metro Manila Film Festival and the Star Awards for Movies. In 2005, Lana's Palanca-award-winning play Mga Estranghero at ang Gabi (1994) was adapted for film by Rody Vera. Renamed Pusang Gala and directed by Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, the film was nominated for several FAMAS awards, including a Best Story nomination for Lana.

Lana made his film directorial debut with Gigil (2006), starring Katrina Halili. The following year, he wrote and directed Roxanne. From 2006 until 2014, Lana was employed by GMA Network, where he served as a creative consultant for the drama department, and as head writer of Magpakailanman and other shows. Lana also directs for television, sometimes in collaboration with actor Cesar Montano. For GMA Network, he directed his Palanca Award-winning teleplay Milagroso, which was aired as a television special and became a finalist at the 2006 Asian TV Awards. Lana has also directed television episodes for Love2Love, Wag Kukurap, and Fantastikids.

His 2012 film Bwakaw was selected as the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.

In 2014, Lana and frequent filmmaking partner, Perci Intalan, established The IdeaFirst Company, a creative content creation and consultancy company. The company has produced many films, which have been awarded in numerous screenings in the Philippines and overseas.

In the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, his 2016 film Die Beautiful won the festival's Audience Choice Award, and also the Best Actor award for Paolo Ballesteros.

In 2019, he won the Best Director Award for his feature film Kalel, 15 at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film had its world premiere in the Estonian capital where it was screened in the official selection.

In 2023, his new feature Your Mother’s Son was screened at the Toronto Film Festival.

Personal life Lana is gay and producer-director Direk Perci Intalan, a former TV5 executive, in a same-sex wedding ceremony in New York City on October 14, 2013. Lana and Intalan were in an open relationship until their separation in December 2021. They consider themselves as best friends and co-parents to their content creation and artist management company, IdeaFirst. Lana is the vice president of IdeaFirst.

Credits Film Year Title Credited as Notes Director Screen writer Producer 1998 Sa Pusod ng Dagat Sagad sa Init Jose Rizal Metro Manila Film Festival entry 1999 Saranggola Soltera Story and screenplay Sa Paraiso ni Efren Muro Ami 2000 Mapagbigay 2001 Red Diaries Bagong Buwan 2002 I Think I'm in Love Story and screenplay Bedtime Stories Two Timer Story and screenplay 2005 Stray Cats "Mga Estranghero at ang Gabi" 2006 Gigil Film directorial debut 2008 Roxxxanne 2009 Tarot Story and screenplay 2011 My Neighbor's Wife Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow 2012 Bwakaw Credited as "Jun Robles Lana" 2013 Barber's Tales 2014 Ilaw ng Kahapon TV release; Lenten specials Hakbang sa Pangarap So It's You 2015 Anino sa Likod ng Buwan The Prenup Haunted Mansion Story and screenplay 2016 Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo may Boyfriend? Die Beautiful Metro Manila Film Festival entry 2018 Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes Story and screenplay My Fairy Tail Love Story Story and screenplay; supervising producer Ang Babaeng Allergic sa Wifi 2019 The Panti Sisters Unforgettable Creative Producer Kalel, 15 2021 Big Night! Metro Manila Film Festival entry 2022 About Us But Not About Us Story and producer 2023 Ten Little Mistresses Anak Ka ng Ina Mo Story and screenplay Becky & Badette Metro Manila Film Festival entry 2024 And the Breadwinner is… 2025 Sisa Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival entry Call Me Mother Metro Manila Film Festival entry 2026 Story and screenplay The Greatest Showdown Metro Manila Film Festival entry

Accolades

Film and television awards + Awards and Nominations Organization YearNominated Work Category ResultRef. Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2013 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Best Narrative Feature Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2017 Die Beautiful UNESCO Award Asian Film Festival Barcelona 2023 About Us But Not About Us Best Film Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2012 Bwakaw Directors Showcase NETPAC Award Directors Showcase Audience Award Best Film - Directors Showcase The EDDYS 2017 Die Beautiful Best Director 2022 Big Night! Best Screenplay 2024 About Us But Not About Us Best Director Best Screenplay Becky and Badette Best Original Theme Song FAMAS Awards 1999 José Rizal Best Screenplay 2000 Soltera Best Screenplay 2002 New Moon Best Screenplay 2006 Stray Cats Best Screenplay Best Story 2019 Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes Best Original Screenplay 2020 Kalel, 15 Best Screenplay Best Director 2022 Big Night! Best Screenplay Best Director 2025 And the Breadwinner Is... Best Director Five Flavours Asian Film Festival 2015 Anino sa Likod ng Buwan Best Film Fribourg International Film Festival 2013 Bwakaw Grand Prix Gawad PASADO 2013 Bwakaw Pinakapasadong Dulang Pampelikula (Best Screenplay) Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) 2015 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) 2016 Anino sa Likod ng Buwan Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) 2020 Kalel, 15 Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) 2022 Big Night! Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) 2024 About Us But Not About Us Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) Golden Screen Awards 2006 Stray Cats Best Adapted Screenplay 2013 Bwakaw Best Story Best Director L.A. Outfest 2013 Bwakaw Outstanding International Narrative Feature Grand Jury Award London Web Fest 2021 Pearl Next Door Best Web Series Luna Award 2000 Soltera Best Screenplay 2013 Bwakaw Best Screenplay Best Director 2017 Die Beautiful Best Director 2024 About Us But Not About Us Best Screenplay Madrid International Film Festival 2014 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Best Director Metro Manila Film Festival 1998 José Rizal Best Original Story Best Screenplay 1999 Muro Ami Best Story 2016 Die Beautiful Best Director 2021 Big Night! Best Screenplay Best Director Best Screenplay 2025 Call Me Mother Best Director Best Screenplay Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022 Big Night! Best Film Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries 2015 Anino sa Likod ng Buwan NETPAC Award Best Film Audience Choice Award PMPC Star Awards for Movies 1999 José Rizal Adapted Screenplay of the Year 1999 Sa Pusod ng Dagat Original Screenplay of the Year 2009 Mag-Ingat Ka Sa... Kulam Movie Original Screenplay of the Year Movie Director of the Year 2012 My Neighbor's Wife 2013 Bwakaw Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Indie Movie Director of the Year 2015 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Indie Movie Director of the Year 2016 Anino sa Likod ng Buwan Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Indie Movie Director of the Year 2017 Die Beautiful Movie Director of the Year 2019 Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes Movie Screenwriter of the Year Movie Director of the Year 2021 Unforgettable Movie Director of the Year The Panti Sisters Movie Director of the Year Kalel, 15 Indie Movie Director of the Year The Panti Sisters Movie Screenwriter of the Year Kalel, 15 Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year 2023 Big Night! Movie Screenwriter of the Year Movie Director of the Year 2024 About Us But Not About Us Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year 2025 Your Mother’s Son Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year Summer Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 About Us But Not About Us Best Screenplay Best Director Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019 Kalel, 15 Best Director 2021 Big Night! Grand Prix for the Best Film 2022 About Us But Not About Us Best Film Tokyo International Film Festival 2012 Bwakaw Asian Film Award — Special Mention 2013 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Tokyo Grand Prix 2016 Die Beautiful Grand Prix Udine Far East Film Festival 2014 Mga Kuwentong Barbero Audience Award Vesoul Asian Film Festival 2013 Bwakaw Golden Wheel 2014 Barber's Tales and Bwakaw National Commission for Culture and the Arts 2014 Jun Robles Lana Ani ng Dangal – Cinema 2015 2016 2020 2021