Z365" or "Festival all year round" is the new strategic point of the Festival in which converge investigation, accompaniment and development of new talents (Ikusmira Berriak, Nest); training and cinematic knowledge transfer (Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, Zinemaldia + Plus, Filmmakers' dialogue); and investigation, disclosure and cinematic thought (Z70 project, Thought and Discussion and Research and publications).
Born in 1984 in Manila, Philippines. Graduated from the University of the Philippines Film Institute in 2005. Worked as writer and researcher in local television, newspaper, radio and online magazines.
He is the first Filipino filmmaker to be accepted in the Cinéfondation Résidence of the Cannes Film Festival. He has currently directed 8 features and several short films, including Short Film About the Indio Nacional and Autohystoria. A retrospective of his works have been featured in Paris, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
His previous work, Now Showing, was part of the 40th Directors' Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival 2008. His latest works Independencia and Manila were shown at the Cannes Film Festival 2009.
He is the recipient of the Thirteen Artists Award of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.