Raymond Red

Raymond Red (born March 22, 1965) is a Filipino filmmaker. A pioneer of independent cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, he served multiple roles in the films he made, specializing in directing and cinematography. His filmography largely focused on themes of corruption, injustice, and poverty.

He has the distinction of being the first Filipino filmmaker to win the Short Film Palme d'Or award for his short film Anino at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

Career Raymond Red began his filmmaking career in 1983, when he directed the Super 8 mm short Ang Magpakailanman at the age of 17. Starring his older brother Jon (credited as "Jon-Jon Red"), he had intended to shoot the short in black and white, but had to settle for color film due to being cheaper than the scarce black-and-white film stock in the market. Two of the short's camerapersons, Raissa Roque and Nonoy Dadivas, were among the more prominent Filipino animators of the 1980s. Ang Magpakailanman premiered at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater within the University of the Philippines Diliman on May 14, 1983. Red later credited Rayns in influencing the path of his film career.

In 1992, Red directed his first feature-length film, a loose biography of Filipino revolutionary Andrés Bonifacio titled Bayani , which was funded by the German company ZDF. It premiered at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival under the Forum of Young Cinema, and was later entered into two further film festivals: Vancouver and Tokyo.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Red directed several television commercials.

Personal life Red's older brother, Jon Red, is a painter-turned-filmmaker.

Red has two sons: Mikhail and Nikolas, both of whom grew up to pursue filmmaking. Mikhail is best known for directing Birdshot (2016) as well as Dead Kids (2019), the latter being the first Philippine-produced Netflix original film.

Filmography Feature films Year Original title English title Director Writer Cinematographer Editor Notes 1992 Bayani Herorowspan="6" Also sound designer 1993 Sakay 1997 Kamada Wardrobe Television film 2009 Himpapawid Manila Skiesrowspan="3" Also executive producer 2012 Kamera Obskura Dark Room Also producer 2015 Mga Rebeldeng May Kaso Rebels with a Cause 2022 Adarna Gangrowspan="4" Directed by his brother Jon Red 2023 Boso Dos 2024 Stag 2025 Lihim Secret Also camera operator. Directed by his son Mikhail Red Manila's Finest

Short films 1983 - Ang Magpakailanman [] 1983 - Kabaka 1983 - Sinigang 1984 - Hikab [] 1987 - Mistula [] 1988 - A Study of the Skies 1989 - Pepe 2000 - Anino [] 2006 - Imahe Nasyon [] (segment "Mistulang Kamera Obskura") 2010 - Shoot 2011 - Bangin []

Awards Ceremony Date Film Award Status Ref. Berlin International Film Festival 1987 Bayani FAMAS Award for Best Sound FAMAS Award 1993 Bayani FAMAS Award for Best Sound 1994 Sakay FAMAS Award for Best Director Gawad Urian Awards 1994 Sakay Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) Best Cinematography (Pinakamahusay na Sinematograpiya) Cannes Film Festival May 25, 2000 Anino Short Film Palme d'Or Cinemanila International Film Festival July 9, 2000 Special Recognition MMFF Gabi ng Parangal December 27, 2025 Manila's Finest Best Director Best Cinematography