Lav Diaz

Filipino film director (born 1958)

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal  family name is Indico and the surname or paternal family name is Diaz.

Lav Diaz

Diaz in 2015

Born|

Lavrente Indico Diaz

(1958-12-30) December 30, 1958 (age 65)

Columbio, Cotabato, Philippines

Other names| Bahagharing Timog[1]
Occupations|

* Filmmaker
* film critic

Notable work|

* Evolution of a Filipino Family
* Heremias (Book One: The Legend of the Lizard Princess)
* Death in the Land of Encantos
* Century of Birthing
* Norte, the End of History
* From What Is Before
* A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery

Lavrente Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic.[2] He is frequently known as one of the key members of the slow cinema movement, and has made several of the longest narrative films on record. Diaz is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary Filipino filmmakers.

Diaz started making films in the late 1990s. His first international exposure was at the Hong Kong International Film Festival in 1999 with his directorial debut Serafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion (The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion). The Hong Kong event went on to present his next two features: Naked Under the Moon in 2000 and Batang West Side in 2001. European film festivals only caught on with Norte, the End of History (2013), which was entered into the Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and received much critical praise.

Diaz's subsequent films have likewise received positive critical attention and many awards. From What Is Before (2014) won the Golden Leopard at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival; A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016) competed for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival and won the Alfred Bauer Prize(Silver Bear); and The Woman Who Left (2016) competed at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Lion. He received the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. He is the recipient of 2021's Natatanging Gawad Urian (Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award).

## Education[edit]

Lav Diaz has an economics degree from Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.[citation needed]

## Career[edit]

Diaz worked as a critic for the Manila Standard newspaper in the late 1980s before moving to New York City to study filmmaking.[3] 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 the 1990 Palanca Awards under the category of Short Story - Filipino.

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 was 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).[4] 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.[5]

He went back in 2011 at the Venice International Film Festival for his film Siglo ng Pagluluwal (Century of Birthing)[6] 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[7] and gained the On-Screen Award at the Images Festival.[8]

His 2013 film Norte, the End of History was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 66th Cannes Film Festival.[9] 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."[10]

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 latest film, When the Waves Are Gone, at the 2022 Venice Film Festival out of competition.[11]

## Political views[edit]

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.[12][13][14]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year  | English Title  | Original Title  | Credited as  | Notes  | Length

|
|
|
|
|

Director  | Writer  | Producer  | Editor  | Cinematographer
1991  | Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway | No  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | Co-written with Tony Mortel, Jose Bartolome and Manny Buising.  | 110 min (1:50)
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[15]
1998  | The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion | Serafin Geronimo: Ang Kriminal ng Baryo Concepcion | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | Directorial debut[16] | 132 min (2:12)
1999  | Burger Boys | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | No  | [17] | 112 min (1:52)
Naked Under the Moon | Hubad sa Ilalim ng Buwan | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | [18] | 110 min (1:50)
2001  | West Side Avenue | Batang West Side | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | Yes  | [19] | 315 min (5:15)
2002  | Hesus the Revolutionary | Hesus, Rebolusyunaryo | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | No  | [17] | 112 min (1:52)
2004  | Evolution of a Filipino Family | Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | [20] | 624 min (10:24)
2006  | Heremias (Book One: Legend of the Lizard Princess) | Heremias (Unang Aklat: Ang Alamat ng Prinsesang Bayawak) | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  |  | 519 min (8:39)
2007  | Death in the Land of Encantos | Kagadanan Sa Banwaan Ning Mga Engkanto | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | [21] | 541 min (9:01)
2008  | Melancholia | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | [22] | 447 min (7:27)
2009  | Butterflies Have No Memories | Walang Alaala ang mga Paru-Paro | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | [23] | 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[24] | 359 min (5:59)
Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution | Elehiya sa Dumalaw Mula sa Himagsikan.  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | [25] | 80 min (1:20)
2012  | Florentina Hubaldo, CTE | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | [26] | 366 min (6:06)
2013  | Norte, the End of History | Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | co-written with Rody Vera;[27] adapted from the novel Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

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 | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Winner Golden Leopard at the 2014 Locarno Film Festival[27] | 339 min (5:39)
Storm Children: Book One | Mga Anak ng Unos: Unang Aklat | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Documentary[28] | 143 min (2:23)
2015  | The Day Before the End | Fragment | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | "Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas..." segment[29] | 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 at 2016 Berlin Film Festival In Competition[30] | 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 by Leo Tolstoy.

Winner Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Film Festival[31]

| 229 min (3:49)
2018  | Season of the Devil | Ang Panahon ng Halimaw | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | No  | Also composer.

Premiered at 2018 Berlin Film Festival in Competition

| 234 min (3:54)
Journey | Lakbayan | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | "Hugaw/Dirt" segment[32] | 118 min (1:58)
2019  | The Halt | Ang Hupa | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | [33] | 283 min (4:43)
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  | [34] | 273 min (4:33)
2022  | A Tale of Filipino Violence | Isang Salaysay ng Karahasang Pilipino | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Yes  | Adapted from Ricardo 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  | Yes  | Premiered at 2022 Venice Film Festival out of competition  | 187 min (3:07)
2023  | Essential Truths of the Lake | Yes  | Yes  | No  | Yes  | Yes  | Premiered at 2023 Locarno Film Festival | 215 min (3:35)

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Credited as  | Notes  | Ref(s).

|
|
|
|

Director  | Writer
1989,
1991  | Balintataw | No  | Yes  | "Iskolar" two-part episode; "Lenny" episode  | [35][36]

## Awards and nominations[edit]

Year  | Film  | Film festival  | Category  | Result  | Refs.

|
|
|
|
|

2008  | Melancholia | 65th Venice International Film Festival | Best Film (Horizons) | Won | [37]
2013  | Norte, the End of History | 2013 Cannes Film Festival | Prix Un Certain Regard | Nominated | [38]
2014  | From What Is Before | 2014 Locarno Film Festival | Golden Leopard | Won | [39]
2016  | A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery | 66th Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | Nominated | [40]
Alfred Bauer Prize (Silver Bear) | Won | [41]
The Woman Who Left | 73rd Venice International Film Festival | Golden Lion | Won | [42]
2018  | Season of the Devil | 68th Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | Nominated | [43]
2020  | Genus, Pan | 77th Venice International Film Festival | Best Director (Horizons) | Won | [44]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Lachica, Veneranda S. (1994). Komunikasyon at Linggwistika (in Filipino). Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store. p. 115\. ISBN 971-23-1614-9. Retrieved November 4, 2022 - via Google Books. "...isinulat ni Lav Indico Diaz na nagtatago sa sagisag na Bahagharing Timog."
2. ^ Diaz, Lav (September 19, 1988). "Talagang nakakatakot". Manila Standard (in Filipino). Manila Standard News, Inc. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
3. ^ Red, Isah V. (July 25, 1999). "The truth about FPJ". Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 18. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
4. ^ "Directory of Winners". Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
5. ^ Cinefoundation.org Archived July 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ Jennings, Sheri (August 18, 2011). "Venice Orizzonti adds Lav Diaz's Century of Birthing". Screen Daily. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
7. ^ Hwang, Hei-rim (May 8, 2012). "Jeonju International Film Festival award winners announced". Korean Cinema Today. KOFIC. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
8. ^ "Images Festival Award Winners". Images Festival. Tucows Domains Inc. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
9. ^ "2013 Official Selection". Cannes. April 30, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
10. ^ Cronk, Jordan (March 26, 2018). "Berlin Interview: Lav Diaz". Film Comment. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
11. ^ Spiniello, Aldo. "When the Waves Are Gone, Lav Diaz". Sentieri selvaggi.
12. ^ "Gaza : des cinéastes du monde entier demandent un cessez-le-feu immédiat". Libération (in French). December 28, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
13. ^ Newman, Nick (December 29, 2023). "Claire Denis, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Christian Petzold, Apichatpong Weerasethakul & More Sign Demand for Ceasefire in Gaza". The Film Stage. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
14. ^ "Directors of cinema sign petition for immediate ceasefire". The Jerusalem Post. December 31, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
15. ^ Samio, Veronica R. (October 8, 2006). "Discovery ni Kuya Germs, bibigyan ng scholarship ni Josh Groban sa Yale Univ!". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
16. ^ Grenier, Pascal (September 15, 2016). "3 Films by Lav Diaz". Cinetalk.net. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
17. ^ a b Tioseco, Alexis A. (January 30, 2006). "A Conversation with Lav Diaz". Criticine. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
18. ^ Cockrell, Eddie (May 8, 2000). "Review: Naked Under the Moon". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
19. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (July 31, 2002). "Review: Batang West Side". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
20. ^ Koehler, Robert (September 28, 2004). "Review: Evolution of a Filipino Family". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
21. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (October 2, 2007). "Review: Death in the Land of Encantos". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
22. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (September 29, 2008). "Review: Melancholia". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
23. ^ "Butterflies Have No Memories". filmaffinity.com. Film Affinity. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
24. ^ Koehler, Robert (October 2, 2011). "Review: Century of Birthing". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
25. ^ Cruz, Oggs (September 11, 2011). "Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
26. ^ "Day 5 – Florentina Hubaldo, CTE (Diaz)". The Art of Slow Cinema. December 5, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
27. ^ a b Chang, Justin (September 5, 2014). "Film Review: From What Is Before". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
28. ^ Tsui, Clarence (January 19, 2015). "Storm Children, Book One (Mga Anak ng Unos, Unang Aklat): Rotterdam Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
29. ^ "Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas". viennale.at. Vienna International Film Festival. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
30. ^ Lodge, Guy (September 9, 2016). "Berlin Film Review: A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
31. ^ Lodge, Guy (September 9, 2016). "Film Review: The Woman Who Left". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
32. ^ Tsui, Clarence (October 25, 2018). "'Lakbayan': Film Review | Tokyo 2018". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
33. ^ Romney, Jonathan (May 24, 2019). "'The Halt': Cannes Review". Screen Daily. Media Business Insight Limited. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
34. ^ "Lav Diaz's language of love this Valentine's Day: a John Lloyd movie you can stream for free". ABS-CBN News. February 24, 2022.
35. ^ "'Iskolar' in Balintataw". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. January 24, 1989. p. 16. Retrieved July 3, 2023. "Written by Lav Diaz."
36. ^ "Remembering Lenny and His Fraternity". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. December 29, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved July 3, 2023. "The script was written by Marcelino Cavestany and Lav Diaz..."
37. ^ "Melancholia".
38. ^ "Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan".
39. ^ "Filipino Director Lav Diaz Takes Home Top Prize in Locarno". The Hollywood Reporter. August 16, 2014.
40. ^ "Eight-hour Berlin film focuses on Philippines revolution". Reuters. February 18, 2016.
41. ^ "Lav Diaz's 'Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis' wins big at Berlin Int'l Film Festival". Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
42. ^ "The Woman Who Left wins Venice film festival as Nocturnal Animals runnerup". TheGuardian.com. September 10, 2016.
43. ^ "Ang Panahon ng Halimaw | Season of the Devil | in Zeiten des Teufels".
44. ^ "Lav Diaz wins Best Director at Venice Film Fest's Orizzonti section". BusinessWorld. September 14, 2020.

## Further publications[edit]

* 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.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lav Diaz.

* Lav Diaz at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Lav Diaz filmography

Films directed|

* Serafin Geronimo: Criminal of Barrio Concepcion (1998)
* Burger Boys (1999)
* Naked Under the Moon (1999)
* West Side Kid (2001)
* Hesus Rebolusyonaryo (2002)
* Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004)
* Heremias, Book One: The Legend of the Lizard Princess (2006)
* Death in the Land of Encantos (2007)
* Melancholia (2008)
* Walang Alaala ang mga Paru-paro (segment of Visitors; 2009)
* Babae ng Hangin (2011)
* Elehiya sa Dumalaw mula sa Himagsikan (2011)
* Century of Birthing (2011)
* Florentina Hubaldo, CTE (2012)
* Norte, the End of History (2013)
* From What Is Before (2014)
* Storm Children (2014)
* A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016)
* The Woman Who Left (2016)
* The Day Before the End (2016)
* Season of the Devil (2018)
* The Halt (2019)
* When the Waves Are Gone (2022)
* Essential Truths of the Lake (2023)
* Henrico's Farm (TBA)

Films written only|

* Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway (1991)
* Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo Hahanapin Kita (1993)
* Mañanita (2019)

Related|

* Adarna: The Mythical Bird (1997)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Korea
* Netherlands
* Poland

Artists|

* Museum of Modern Art
* ULAN

People|

* Deutsche Biographie

Other|

* IdRef

*[lit.]: literal translation
*[Ref(s)]: Reference(s)
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