Lav Diaz

Lavrente 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 long narrative films that explore social and political issues, minimalistic storytelling, long takes and cinematic form.

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). His first notable works are Batang West Side and Evolution of a Filipino Family, both of which feature the expanded timespan that has become part of his cinematic trademark. His work caught the media attention with the European film festival run of 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 acclaim.

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