Filmmaker Mike de Leon passes away

MANILA, Philippines, August 29 ------ Critically acclaimed filmmaker Mike de Leon, known for his political and social commentary works such as "Batch '81" (1982) and "Sister Stella L." (1984), has passed away. He was 78.

His closed friends confirmed the news to French film distributor CarlottaFilms on Thursday. "Oh no… Just waking up, we learn from his close friends about the passing of Mike De Leon… And this happens while we are in the middle of the Venice Festival… Where we discovered our first Mike De Leon about 10 years ago at Venice Classics, 'Batch 81,' and we were in shock," the post, as translated from French, read. "Since @labiennale, there has been all the work on his films, countless emails, our meetings in Manila, Baguio, 'Itim' at @festivaldecannes, the box set… And now he is gone. The last of this New Wave of Philippine cinema from the ’70s Oh no So very sad. RIP Mike!" the post added. De Leon's family, however, has yet to release an official statement as of posting.

De Leon is known for directing critically acclaimed films during the Martial Law era and beyond, which often explored themes of societal corruption, political repression, and the plight of marginalized people. His celebrated works include "Itim" (1978), "Kisapmata" (1981), "Batch '81" (1982), and "Sister Stella L." (1984). Before this, he also served as a cinematographer, famously working on Lino Brocka's masterpiece "Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag" (1975).

De Leon comes from a family of film pioneers, being the grandson of LVN Pictures co-founder Doña Sisang de Leon. Among his last films is "Citizen Jake" (2018) starring news anchor Atom Araullo. In 1999, the Cultural Center of the Philippines awarded de Leon the Centennial Honors for the Arts. In 2014, de Leon declined to receive the Natatanging Gaward Urian lifetime achievement award, stating, "I just want to be alone. I’m no longer a director and I’m no longer public property." In 2024, de Leon also declined to receive the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining, the highest award given by the organization

Source: manilatimes.net