Fresh from a career that has redefined world cinema, acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz is once again taking Philippine cinema to the global stage.
His latest feature, “Makikiraan Po (Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors),” has been selected for the Venice Open – Out of Competition (Fiction) section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, which runs from September 2 to 12, 2026.
The film stars Bart Guingona, Ronnie Lazaro, Isabel Sandoval, Yul Servo, Christian Bables, and Bong Cabrera.
The selection marks Diaz’s return to Venice, where he made history in 2016 after winning the festival’s highest honor, the Golden Lion, for “The Woman Who Left.”
Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of slow cinema, Diaz is celebrated for his meditative storytelling, lengthy runtimes, and striking visual style. His films frequently tackle Philippine history, colonialism, martial law, poverty, and the resilience of ordinary Filipinos.
Born in Maguindanao, Diaz began his career as a journalist, writer, and musician before turning to filmmaking. He rose to international prominence through acclaimed works such as “Batang West Side,” “Evolution of a Filipino Family,” “Heremias,” and “Norte, the End of History.”
Beyond Venice, Diaz has also won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, cementing his reputation as one of the Philippines’ most internationally celebrated filmmakers. With “Makikiraan Po,” he continues to bring Filipino stories to the world’s most prestigious film festivals.
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