Lav Diaz

Known for directing · Born 30 December 1958 · 67 · Columbio, Sultan Kudarat, Philippines

98 credits

Lavrente 'Lav' Indico Diaz (born December 30, 1958) is a Filipino independent filmmaker and former film critic. He is known as one of the key practitioners of the slow cinema genre, producing a diverse range of some of the longest narrative films that explore social and political issues, minimalistic storytelling, long takes, and cinematic form. Although he had been making films since the late 1990s, Diaz didn't attract much public attention outside of the Philippines and the festival circuit until the release of Norte, the End of History, which was entered into Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. His three subsequent films have received much critical attention and many awards with 2014's From What Is Before earning him the Golden Leopard at the 2014 Locarno International Film Festival as well as a nomination for the Asian Film Award for Best Director, 2016's A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery competing for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival and winning the Alfred Bauer Prize, and 2016's The Woman Who Left competing at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival and winning the Golden Lion.

Known for

The Woman Who Left

2016

Norte, the End of History

2014

Magellan

2025

From What Is Before

2014

Evolution of a Filipino Family

2004

Melancholia

2008

The Halt

2019

Venice 70: Future Reloaded

2013

Storm Children

2014

Elegy to the Visitor From the Revolution

2011

Batang West Side

2001

A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery

2016

Acting (33)

2025CinemartyrsKristoFilm

2025Del MundoFilm

2024Schirkoa: In Lies We TrustPoet (voice)Film

2024Rizal's Makamisa: Phantasm of RevengeKristo KastradoFilm

2024Real Life FictionFilm

2024MoneyslapperLucasFilm

2023TaxibolHimselfFilm

2022The Devil of ComparisonsPriestFilm

2021Atravesando el campoLav DiazFilm

2021Life in 24 Frames a SecondSelfFilm

2019Habambuhay: Remembering Philippine CinemaHimselfFilm

2019Blockbuster Where a Giant Monster Destroys a TownSound RecorderFilm

2016Singing in GraveyardsPaulFilm

2016LilyDrunk ManFilm

2015SalvageNilalangFilm

2015The Last Pinoy Action KingHimselfFilm

2015Salamat sa AlaalaHimselfFilm

2014LornaRockyFilm

2014Echoserang FrogHimselfFilm

2012ColossalShamanFilm

2012The Great Cinema PartyFilm

2012Jingle lang ang PahinaFilm

2012Jeonju Digital Project 2012Film

2011Elegy to the Visitor From the RevolutionGuitarist (Uncredited)Film

2010IndependenciaTownspeopleFilm

2010Philippine New Wave: This Is Not a Film MovementHimselfFilm

2010Return to Manila: Filipino CinemahimselfFilm

2009ManilaDirectorFilm

2009Manila SkiesFilm

2007Green Rocking ChairFilm

2006Todo Todo TerosHimselfFilm

2004HeadlessFilm

—The SacrificePiloFilm

Art (1)

2023When the Waves Are GoneProduction Design, Director, WriterFilm

Camera (3)

2021History of HaDirector of Photography, Writer, Production Design, EditorFilm

2020LiminalDirector of PhotographyFilm

2019The HaltDirector of Photography, Editor, Writer, Production DesignFilm

Directing (35)

2026Let Us Through, Dear AncestorsDirector, Production Design, Editor, Writer, Director of PhotographyFilm

2025PhantosmiaDirector, Cinematography, Production Design, Editor, Story, ScreenplayFilm

2024FaithDirectorFilm

2024Absalom FilipinoDirectorFilm

2020Genus PanDirector, Editor, Director of Photography, WriterFilm

2020Himala: A Dialectic for Our TimesDirectorFilm

2019JourneyDirector, ScreenplayFilm

201930th anniversaire of FIDMarseilleDirectorFilm

2018The Boy Who Chose the EarthDirector, WriterFilm

2016The Woman Who LeftDirector, Screenplay, Cinematography, Editor, Co-ProducerFilm

2015Death in the Land of EncantosDirector, Writer, Cinematography, EditorFilm

2015FragmentDirector, WriterFilm

2014Storm ChildrenDirector, Cinematography, EditorFilm

2013Venice 70: Future ReloadedDirector, Director of Photography, WriterFilm

2013Prologue to the Great DesaparecidoDirector, Writer, Editor, Director of PhotographyFilm

2011Elegy to the Visitor From the RevolutionDirector, Screenplay, Director of Photography, EditorFilm

2011Century of BirthingDirector, Writer, Music, Editor, CinematographyFilm

2009PurgatorioDirectorFilm

2007Death in the Land of EncantosDirector, Screenplay, Story, Producer, Original Music Composer, Director of Photography, Editor, CreatorSeries

2006Heremias: Book One - The Legend of the Lizard PrincessDirector, Editor, WriterFilm

2002Jesus the RevolutionaryDirector, Screenplay, StoryFilm

1999Naked Under the MoonDirector, ScreenplayFilm

1999Burger BoysDirector, ScreenplayFilm

1998Serafin Geronimo: The Criminal of Barrio ConcepcionDirector, ScreenplayFilm

—Untitled When the Waves Are Gone sequelDirector, WriterFilm

—KawalanDirector, Editor, Director of Photography, Writer, ProducerFilm

—Beatriz, La MujerDirectorFilm

—Heremias: Book Two – The Legend of The Invisible IslandDirectorFilm

—Henrico's FarmDirector, WriterFilm

—Ang Araw ng Itim na NazarenoDirectorFilm

—An AmazonDirectorFilm

—Beatriz, The WifeDirector, WriterFilm

—An Entry Into the Sadness of a Portuguese WomanDirector, WriterFilm

—Untitled 'false prophets' filmDirectorFilm

—Noli Me TángereDirector, WriterFilm

Editing (2)

2014From What Is BeforeEditor, Director, Writer, Director of Photography, ProducerFilm

2008MelancholiaEditor, Writer, Director, CinematographyFilm

Production (1)

2016A Lullaby to the Sorrowful MysteryProducer, Director, Screenplay, EditorFilm

Sound (4)

2019The Oceans Are the Real ContinentsMusic, Executive ProducerFilm

2019Blockbuster Where a Giant Monster Destroys a TownSound Recordist, Director of PhotographyFilm

2018A Short History of a Few Bad ThingsSongsFilm

2015Wake (Subic)MusicFilm

Writing (19)

2025MagellanScreenplay, Director, Director of Photography, Editor, Production DesignerFilm

2023Essential Truths of the LakeScreenplay, Writer, Editor, Cinematography, DirectorFilm

2022A Tale of Filipino ViolenceScreenplay, Production Design, Editor, DirectorFilm

2019MañanitaWriterFilm

2018Season of the DevilWriter, Director, Editor, MusicFilm

2018AveOriginal StoryFilm

2016The Day Before the EndWriter, DirectorFilm

2014Norte, the End of HistoryScreenplay, Editor, DirectorFilm

2013Alamat ni China DollScreenplayFilm

2012Florentina Hubaldo, CTEScreenplay, Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematography, SoundFilm

2012Investigation on the Night That Won't ForgetWriter, Director, Editor, CinematographyFilm

2009Butterflies Have No MemoryWriter, Director, Producer, Director of Photography, EditorFilm

2006Image NationWriter, DirectorFilm

2004Evolution of a Filipino FamilyScreenplay, Director, Editor, Story, Producer, CinematographyFilm

2001Batang West SideScreenplay, DirectorFilm

1993Galvez: Hanggang sa Dulo ng Mundo, Hahanapin KitaScreenplayFilm

1991Good Friend, Evil EnemyScreenplayFilm

1991Daddy GoonScreenplayFilm

1989The CaretakerStoryFilm