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Mike de Leon

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Mike de Leon

Miguel "Mike" Pamintuan de Leon (May 24, 1947 – August 28, 2025) was a Filipino film director. He is regarded as one of the most significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. His films, which include Itim (1976), Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising (1977), Kakabakaba Ka Ba? (1980), Kisapmata (1981), Batch '81 (1981), Sister Stella L. (1984), Bayaning 3rd World (2000), and Citizen Jake (2018), tackle Philippine social and political themes. De Leon also shot and produced Lino Brocka's film Manila in the Claws of Light (1975), considered to be one of the greatest Filipino films.

Infobox

Born
Miguel Pamintuan de Leon(1947-05-24)May 24, 1947Manila, Philippines
Died
August 28, 2025(2025-08-28) (aged 78)
Alma mater
Ateneo de Manila University (BA) University of Heidelberg (MA)
Occupations
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Years active
1972–2001, 2016–2019
Relatives
Narcisa Buencamino vda. de León (grandmother)

Tables

· Works › Feature films
1975
1975
Year
1975
Original title
Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
English title
Manila in the Claws of Light
Director
No
Writer
No
Producer
Yes
Notes
Also cinematographer; directed by Lino Brocka
1976
1976
Year
1976
Original title
Itim
English title
The Rites of May
Director
Yes
Writer
No
Producer
No
1977
1977
Year
1977
Original title
Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising
English title
Moments in a Stolen Dream
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Rey Santayana; also cinematographer
1980
1980
Year
1980
Original title
Aguila
Director
No
Writer
No
Producer
No
Notes
Cinematographer; directed by Eddie Romero
Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
Year
Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
Original title
Will Your Heart Beat Faster?
English title
Yes
Director
Yes
Writer
No
Producer
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., and Raquel Villavicencio
1981
1981
Year
1981
Original title
Kisapmata
English title
In the Wink of an Eye
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. and Raquel Villavicencio
1982
1982
Year
1982
Original title
Batch '81
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. and Raquel Villavicencio
1984
1984
Year
1984
Original title
Sister Stella L.
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Jose F. Lacaba and Jose Almojuela
1985
1985
Year
1985
Original title
Hindi Nahahati ang Langit
English title
An Indivisible Heaven
Director
Yes
Writer
No
Producer
No
Notes
Uncredited as director on initial release
1986
1986
Year
1986
Original title
Bilanggo sa Dilim
English title
Prisoner in the Dark
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Jose Almojuela and Bobby Lavides, based on John Fowles' The Collector; also editor
2000
2000
Year
2000
Original title
Bayaning 3rd World
English title
Third World Hero
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
Yes
Notes
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.
2018
2018
Year
2018
Original title
Citizen Jake
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
Yes
Notes
Co-written with Noel Pascual and Atom Araullo
Year
Original title
English title
Director
Writer
Producer
Notes
1975
Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
Manila in the Claws of Light
No
No
Yes
Also cinematographer; directed by Lino Brocka
1976
Itim
The Rites of May
Yes
No
No
1977
Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising
Moments in a Stolen Dream
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Rey Santayana; also cinematographer
1980
Aguila
No
No
No
Cinematographer; directed by Eddie Romero
Kakabakaba Ka Ba?
Will Your Heart Beat Faster?
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., and Raquel Villavicencio
1981
Kisapmata
In the Wink of an Eye
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. and Raquel Villavicencio
1982
Batch '81
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. and Raquel Villavicencio
1984
Sister Stella L.
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Jose F. Lacaba and Jose Almojuela
1985
Hindi Nahahati ang Langit
An Indivisible Heaven
Yes
No
No
Uncredited as director on initial release
1986
Bilanggo sa Dilim
Prisoner in the Dark
Yes
Yes
No
Co-written with Jose Almojuela and Bobby Lavides, based on John Fowles' The Collector; also editor
2000
Bayaning 3rd World
Third World Hero
Yes
Yes
Yes
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.
2018
Citizen Jake
Yes
Yes
Yes
Co-written with Noel Pascual and Atom Araullo
· Works › Short films
1972
1972
Year
1972
Original title
Monologo
English title
Monologue
Director
Yes
Writer
Yes
Producer
Yes
Notes
Now lost; portion of the film can be found in the documentary Itim: Isang Eksplorasyon sa Pelikula
1983
1983
Year
1983
Original title
Signos
English title
Omens
Director
Yes
Writer
No
Producer
No
Notes
Documentary; co-directed with members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines
1993
1993
Year
1993
Original title
Aliwan Paradise
Director
Yes
Writer
No
Producer
No
Notes
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.; made for the anthology film Southern Winds
2000
2000
Year
2000
Original title
Motorsiklo
English title
Motorcycle
Director
No
Writer
Yes
Producer
Yes
Notes
Directed by Cesar Hernando
Year
Original title
English title
Director
Writer
Producer
Notes
1972
Monologo
Monologue
Yes
Yes
Yes
Now lost; portion of the film can be found in the documentary Itim: Isang Eksplorasyon sa Pelikula
1983
Signos
Omens
Yes
No
No
Documentary; co-directed with members of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines
1993
Aliwan Paradise
Yes
No
No
Co-written with Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.; made for the anthology film Southern Winds
2000
Motorsiklo
Motorcycle
No
Yes
Yes
Directed by Cesar Hernando

References

  1. Film Comment
    https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/interview-mike-de-leon-on-philippine-cinema/
  2. Rolling Stone Philippines
    https://rollingstonephilippines.com/culture/film-tv/mike-de-leon-passes-away/
  3. The Manila Times
    https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/08/28/entertainment-lifestyle/show-times/filmmaker-mike-de-leon-passes-away/2175154
  4. Collider
    https://collider.com/manila-in-the-claws-of-light-taxi-driver/
  5. GMA Entertainment
    https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/photos/legendary-filipino-filmmaker-mike-de-leon-passes-away/24843
  6. Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 161.
  7. National Midweek
  8. Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Art
    https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/4/26/4389/
  9. Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art
    https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/4/24/1207/
  10. Philippine Daily Inquirer
    https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/43483/see-a-free-film-with-us-thursday-scout-movie-nights/
  11. Campos 2006, p. 39.
  12. Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 162.
  13. BusinessWorld
    https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2024/04/05/585891/filipino-identity-in-a-historical-epic/
  14. Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art
    https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/4/24/1202/
  15. Vogue
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230308083536/https://www.vogue.com/article/mike-de-leon-moma-film-retrospective
  16. Time Out Film Guide
    https://books.google.com/books?id=L1AOAQAAMAAJ
  17. Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art
    https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/4/24/1293/
  18. The Philippine Star
    https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/05/04/1690678/mike-de-leon-presumptive-national-artist
  19. Philippine Daily Inquirer
    https://entertainment.inquirer.net/470297/mike-de-leon-first-ph-filmmaker-to-have-a-retrospective-at-new-yorks-moma
  20. Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art
    https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/4/24/1102/
  21. Sangil 2021, p. 78.
  22. The Philippine Star
    https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2017/05/04/1690678/mike-de-leon-presumptive-national-artist
  23. Philippine Daily Inquirer
    https://entertainment.inquirer.net/625843/mike-de-leon-renowned-filmmaker-dies-at-78
  24. Rappler
    https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/224245-mike-de-leon-kangkungan-duterte
  25. ABS-CBN News
    https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/28/mike-de-leon-director-of-kisapmata-and-sister-stella-l-dies-at-78-1737
  26. The Museum of Modern Art
    https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/8284
  27. Museum of Modern Art
    https://www.moma.org/calendar/film/5516
  28. Rappler
    https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/only-in-hollywood-major-coup-philippine-cinema-moma-retrospective-mike-de-leon-lvn/
  29. Philstar Life
    https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/811557-almost-working-mike-de-leon?page=6
  30. Rappler
    https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/movies/filmmaker-mike-de-leon-dies/
  31. Manila Standard
    https://manilastandard.net/showbiz/celebrity-profiles/314635555/veteran-filmmaker-mike-de-leon-dies-at-78.html
  32. PEP.ph
    https://www.pep.ph/news/local/188360/mike-de-leon-dies-a712-20250828
  33. PEP.ph
    https://www.pep.ph/news/43392/film-director-mike-de-leon-declines-lifetime-achievement-award-from-gawad-urian
  34. PEP.ph
    https://www.pep.ph/news/local/180520/lea-salonga-mario-o-hara-mike-de-leon-gawad-ccp-2024-a717-20240504
  35. Philstar.com
    https://www.philstar.com/pang-masa/pang-movies/2024/09/23/2387304/direk-mike-de-leon-tinanggihan-ang-parangal-ng-ccp
  36. Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 371.
  37. Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 372.
  38. Vibal & Villegas 2020, p. 368.
  39. Journal News Online
    https://journalnews.com.ph/the-legacy-of-mike-de-leon/
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