Lav Diaz

Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino filmmaker, actor, and former film critic. He is known as one of the key names of the slow cinema genre, directing a diverse range of long narrative films that explore social and political issues in Philippines, with minimalist storytelling and long takes.

Diaz made his feature directorial debut with Serafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng baryo Concepcion, released in 1998. Initially making low budget films within the Philippine studio system, he first came into prominence with Batang West Side (2001) and Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004), which both feature long running times that have become part of his cinematic trademark. His work garnered international acclaim with Norte, the End of History (2013), which was entered into the Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Diaz received further accolades with From What Is Before (2014), A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016), and The Woman Who Left (2016). He is a recipient of 2018's FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award and 2021's Natatanging Gawad Urian (Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award). Diaz's latest film, Magellan (2025), was his second film to be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, after Norte, the End of History.

Early life and education Lavrente Diaz was born on December 30, 1958 in Columbio, Cotabato within Mindanao to Mario Diaz, an Ilocano from Guimba, Nueva Ecija, and Maria Indico, from Lambunao, Iloilo; both of his parents are teachers who had previously decided to volunteer for a government program and travel to Mindanao to assist in building schools. Lav Diaz was initially meant to be named "José", but his father Mario, whom he described as "a hardcore socialist" who loved Russian literature, According to his father, Diaz's family descended from Valentín Díaz, one of the founders of the Katipunan that initiated the Philippine Revolution in 1896. Diaz had a total of four siblings; an older brother, Bonifacio Diaz, died as an infant upon being given the wrong medication for his sickness at a hospital. 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.

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. In 2025, he 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.

Diaz has also appeared in several films, such as Raymond Red's Himpapawid (2009), Sigrid Andrea Bernardo's Lorna (2014), and Khavn's Makamisa: Phantasm of Revenge (2024). He is set to star on Prime Cruz's upcoming psychological horror film The Sacrifice alongside Lovi Poe, Timothy Granaderos and Enchong Dee.

Political views Similar to his father, Diaz is a socialist, having expressed admiration for Filipino revolutionaries such as New People's Army leaders Bernabe "Kumander Dante" Buscayno and Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.

Personal life Diaz has three children. One of his daughters experienced the same disease he had during his childhood, which was soon diagnosed as a condition called dystonia after she enrolled in a study at Columbia University.

Filmography Feature films Year English title Original title Credited as Notes Length Director Writer Producer Editor Cinematographer 1998 The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion Serafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion Directorial debut 132 min (2:12) 1999 Burger Boys 112 min (1:52) Naked Under the Moon Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan 110 min (1:50) 2001 West Side Avenue Batang West Side 315 min (5:15) 2002 Hesus the Revolutionary Hesus, Rebolusyonaryo 624 min (10:24) 2006 Heremias (Book One: Legend of the Lizard Princess) Heremias (Unang Aklat: Ang Alamat ng Prinsesang Bayawak) 519 min (8:39) 2007 Death in the Land of Encantos Kagadanan sa Banwaan ning Mga Engkanto 541 min (9:01) 2008 Melancholia Also composer 447 min (7:27) 2009 Butterflies Have No Memories Walang Alaala ang mga Paru-Paro 61 min (1:01) 2011 Century of Birthing Siglo ng Pagluluwal also composer 359 min (5:59) Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution Elehiya sa Dumalaw Mula sa Himagsikan. 80 min (1:20) 2012 Florentina Hubaldo, CTE 366 min (6:06) 2013 Norte, the End of History Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan co-written with Rody Vera; Nominated - Best International Film at the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards.Nominated - Un Certain Regard at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. 250 min (4:10) 2014 From What Is Before Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon Winner Golden Leopard at the 2014 Locarno Film Festival 143 min (2:23) 2016 A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis Premiered at 2016 Berlin Film Festival In Competition 489 min (8:09) The Woman Who Left Ang Babaeng Humayo Adapted from the short story "God Sees the Truth, But Waits" by Leo Tolstoy.Winner Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Film Festival 229 min (3:49) 2018 Season of the Devil Ang Panahon ng Halimaw Also composer.Premiered at 2018 Berlin Film Festival in Competition 234 min (3:54) 2019 The Halt Ang Hupa 283 min (4:43) 2020 Genus Pan Lahi, Hayop Re-edited material from an abandoned 2014 feature film. 157 min (2:37) 2021 History of Ha Historya ni Ha 273 min (4:33) 2022 A Tale of Filipino Violence Isang Salaysay ng Karahasang Pilipino Adapted from Ricardo Lee's short story and screenplay of "Servando Magdamag"; premiered at FIDMarseille. 409 min (6:49) When the Waves Are Gone Kapag Wala Nang Mga Alon Premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, out of competition 187 min (3:07) 2023 Essential Truths of the Lake Premiered at the 76th Locarno Film Festival 215 min (3:35) 2024 Phantosmia Premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, out of competition 156 min (2:36) 2026 Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors Makikiraan po Premiere at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival 147 min (2:27) TBA Kawalan Post-production Henrico's Farm An Amazon Pre-production, first work in English Omnibus films Year Title Segment Notes 2006 Imahe Nasyon "Nang Matapos ang Ulan" Anthology film to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, with all segments starring Pen Medina. 2009 Visitors "Walang Alaala ang Mga Paruparo" A short version was commissioned for the 2009 Jeonju International Film Festival. Visitors also features segments by Naomi Kawase and Hong Sang-soo. 2013 Venice 70: Future Reloaded "Ang Alitaptap" Commissioned for the 70th Venice International Film Festival. 2015 Fragment "Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas" Commissioned by the Asian Film Archive for their 10th anniversary. 2018 Lakbayan "Hugaw" Also features segments by Brillante Mendoza and Kidlat Tahimik 2019 30th anniversaire of FIDMarseille "Marta" Commissioned for the 30th anniversary of FIDMarseille 2020 Liminal "Malamig ang Mundo" Commissioned by the UNAM International Film Festival (FICUNAM) alongside Manuela de Laborde, Oscar Enriquez, and Philippe Grandrieux.

Short films YearEnglish title Original title Notes 2013Prologue to the Great Desaparecido Prologo sa ang Dakilang Desaparecido Preview for Diaz's then-upcoming feature film The Great Desaparecido, elements of which were later included in A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery, about Gregoria de Jesus's search for her husband Andres Bonifacio's remains. 2018The Boy Who Chose the Earth Two-minute trailer for the 56th Vienna International Film Festival. 2020 Himala: Isang Diyalektika ng Ating Panahon Eight-minute reaction video to the 1982 film Himala, screened during the Gabi ng Himala online fundraising event to help Filipino film crew affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 2024Faith Faith One-minute trailer for the Austrian Film Museum on its 60th anniversary.

Writer only Year Title Notes 1991 Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway Co-written with Tony Mortel, Jose F. Bartolome and Manny Buising; directed by Augusto Salvador 1991 Daddy Goon Co-written with Jose F. Bartolome and Rodolfo T. Meyer; directed by Rudy Meyer 1993 Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo Hahanapin Kita Co-written with Henry Nadong; directed by Manuel Fyke Cinco 2013 Alamat ni China Doll Directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. 2019 Mañanita Directed by Paul Soriano

Selected acting roles and documentary appearances Year Title Role Notes 2004 Pugot Taga Directed by Khavn Todo Todo Teros Himself Directed by John Torres 2007 Green Rocking Chair Himself Directed by Roxlee 2009 Independencia Townspeople Directed by Raya Martin Manila Director Directed by Adolfo Alix Jr. and Raya Martin Himpapawid Cameo Directed by Raymond Red 2010 Philippine New Wave: This Is Not a Film Movement Himself Documentary 2012 Colossal Shaman Directed by Whammy Alcazaren 2014 Echoserang Frog Himself Directed by Joven Tan Lorna Rodolfo Directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo 2015 The Last Pinoy Action King Himself Documentary Salvage Nilalang Directed by Sherad Anthony Sanchez 2016 Singing in Graveyards Paul Directed by Bradley Liew Lily Drunk Man Directed by Keith Deligero 2019 Habambuhay: Remembering Philippine Cinema Himself Documentary 2024 Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust Poet (voice) Directed by Ishan Shukla Makamisa: Phantasm of Revenge Kristo Kastrado Directed by Khavn Real Life Fiction Pawnshop Owner Directed by Paul Soriano Moneyslapper Lucas Directed by Bor Ocampo Cinemartyrs Kristo Directed by Sari Dalena TBA The Sacrifice Pilo Post-production

Television Year Title Credited as Notes . Director Writer 1989,1991 Balintataw "Iskolar" two-part episode; "Lenny" episode

Awards and nominations