Biography
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.
Directed
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The Woman Who Left (2016) — Director
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Norte, the End of History (2014) — Director
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Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004) — Director
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From What Is Before (2014) — Director
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Magellan (2025) — Director
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Melancholia (2008) — Director
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The Halt (2019) — Director
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Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013) — Director
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Elegy to the Visitor From the Revolution (2011) — Director
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Storm Children (2014) — Director
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Batang West Side (2001) — Director
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A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016) — Director
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Century of Birthing (2011) — Director
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Heremias: Book One - The Legend of the Lizard Princess (2006) — Director
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Season of the Devil (2018) — Director
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Florentina Hubaldo, CTE (2012) — Director
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Death in the Land of Encantos (2015) — Director
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Investigation on the Night That Won't Forget (2012) — Director
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Butterflies Have No Memory (2009) — Director
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Naked Under the Moon (1999) — Director
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When the Waves Are Gone (2023) — Director
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Genus Pan (2020) — Director
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Jesus the Revolutionary (2002) — Director
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Serafin Geronimo: The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion (1998) — Director
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The Day Before the End (2016) — Director
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Burger Boys (1999) — Director
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Prologue to the Great Desaparecido (2013) — Director
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Liminal (2020) — Director
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History of Ha (2021) — Director
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Essential Truths of the Lake (2023) — Director
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Himala: A Dialectic for Our Times (2020) — Director
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The Boy Who Chose the Earth (2018) — Director
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Death in the Land of Encantos (2007) — Director
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Purgatorio (2009) — Director
- Untitled When the Waves Are Gone sequel — Director
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Image Nation (2006) — Director
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Kawalan — Director
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Fragment (2015) — Director
- Beatriz, La Mujer — Director
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Phantosmia (2025) — Director
Also appeared in
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Elegy to the Visitor From the Revolution (2011) — Guitarist (Uncredited)
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Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust (2024) — Poet (voice)
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Manila (2009) — Director
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Independencia (2010) — Townspeople
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Philippine New Wave: This Is Not a Film Movement (2010) — Himself
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Colossal (2012) — Shaman
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Todo Todo Teros (2006) — Himself
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Lorna (2014)
- The Great Cinema Party (2012)
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Salvage (2015) — Nilalang
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Taxibol (2023) — Himself
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The Last Pinoy Action King (2015) — Himself
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Headless (2004)
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Singing in Graveyards (2016) — Paul
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Lily (2016) — Drunk Man
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Atravesando el campo (2021) — Lav Diaz
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Habambuhay: Remembering Philippine Cinema (2019) — Himself
- Green Rocking Chair (2007)
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Manila Skies (2009)
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Echoserang Frog (2014)
- The Devil of Comparisons (2022) — Priest
- Salamat sa Alaala (2015) — Himself
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Rizal's Makamisa: Phantasm of Revenge (2024) — Kristo Kastrado
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Real Life Fiction (2024)
- Return to Manila: Filipino Cinema (2010) — himself
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Jingle lang ang Pahina (2012)
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Jeonju Digital Project 2012 (2012)
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Blockbuster Where a Giant Monster Destroys a Town (2019) — Sound Recorder
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Life in 24 Frames a Second (2021) — Self
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Moneyslapper (2024) — Lucas
- The Sacrifice — Pilo
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Cinemartyrs (2025) — Kristo
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Del Mundo (2025)