Lav Diaz, John Torres films head to Venice, TIFF

Diaz returns with “Makikiraan Po” as Torres debuts “The Remotes” at Toronto fest.

Filipino filmmakers Lav Diaz and John Torres are set to bring their latest works to two of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, marking a strong showing for Philippine cinema on the global stage.

Diaz returns to the La Biennale di Venezia, set for August 26 to September 5, with “Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors),” which will screen in the out-of-competition section. The selection comes two years after his last appearance at the festival and coincides with the 10th anniversary of his Golden Lion win for “Ang Babaeng Humayo,” as announced by line producer Hazel Orencio.

Written and directed by Diaz, the film is set in 1617 during the Spanish colonial period in Las Islas Filipinas. It centers on Padre Enciso, a friar and encomendero who enforces brutal rule while pursuing the construction of a marble church altar.

He assigns his son, Dungwen, to lead a perilous mission transporting the materials across bandit-ridden terrain, where they face the feared marauder Baribari. At the same time, a local healer, Babayeng Intimatandog, defies Enciso by sustaining indigenous Malay traditions, setting up a clash between colonial authority and native belief.

The cast includes Bart Guingona, Ronnie Lazaro, Isabel Sandoval, Christian Bables, Yul Servo Nieto, Bong Cabrera, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Sri Arjhay Babon, Necias Pataunia, and Daniel Palisa. The film is produced by Monty Blencowe and Bianca Balbuena-Liew.

Meanwhile, Torres is set to premiere his latest feature, “The Remotes” (2026), at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which will run from September 10 to 20. The film will screen under the Wavelengths section and marks his narrative debut after years of working in experimental cinema.

The film marks his narrative debut after years of working in experimental cinema.

Written by Torres and Do Dayao, “The Remotes” follows a grieving detective whose investigation into a strange case pulls him into a web tied to a sinister navigation app. As the probe unfolds, the technology leaves both physical and psychological damage in its wake, blurring the lines between reality and perception.

The film stars Alchris Galura, Gabby Padilla, Julia Richards, and Enchong Dee. Torres is expected to attend two public screenings at the TIFF Lightbox and participate in post-screening Q&A sessions. 

Backed by Los Otros, it is produced by Torres, Sherad Anthony Sanchez, and Shireen Seno.

La Biennale di Venezia, the world’s oldest film festival, and TIFF, one of the most influential platforms for contemporary cinema, are both key launchpads for international exposure. Selections in their official programs signal strong artistic recognition and offer Filipino filmmakers wider visibility, critical attention, and potential global distribution.

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