Mike De Leon, acclaimed director of films like 'Kisapmata,' passes away

Mike De Leon, the visionary Filipino filmmaker has passed away. He was 78.

On social media Thursday, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) said it "joins the entire film industry in mourning the passing of visionary filmmmaker Mike De Leon."

"Mike De Leon shone a light on the beauty and pain of the downtrodden and repressed, bringing their stories to the cultural forefront," it added.

FDCP also included a short message from its president, Jose Javier Reyes, about De Leon, saying "[His] life was dedicated to film. His consistent imagination to explore the language of cinema shaped what we understand of Philippine filmmaking today."

On Facebook, Carlotta Films said De Leon's relatives confirmed his death to them.

His cause of death was not immediately known.

De Leon was the man behind films like "Kisapmata," "Batch '81," and "Sister Stella L," to name a few.

"Kisapmata" was among De Leon’s most critically acclaimed films. Starring Charo Santos-Concio, it was based on National Artist Nick Joaquin's crime report, "The House on Zapote Street."

It was restored in 2020, and was later adapted into a stage play in 2025.

His other films include "Itim," "Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising," and 1999's "Bayaning Third World," after which he took an early retirement. He returned after almost two decades with 2018's “Citizen Jake” marking his final directing role.

— Jade Veronique Yap/LA, GMA Integrated News