25/04/2026
We are honored to present Director Zig Dulay as one of the jurors for this year’s Competition section.
A recipient of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Film and TV 2024, is known for his regional films that tackle socio-political and cultural issues. His filmmaking journey began when he discovered Armando Lao's Found Story. Early in his career, he gained recognition for writing screenplays for films like Ekstra (The Bit Player), Posas (Shackled), Qwerty, Kasal (The Commitment), and Ad Ignorantiam. Later, he shifted to directing, creating award-winning films such as Missing, M. (Mother's Maiden Name), Bambanti (Scarecrow), Paglipay (Crossing), Bagahe (The Baggage), and Black Rainbow. These films won local and international awards, including Best Film.
His recent works Firefly and Green Bones were recognized as Best Films at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 and the Manila International Film Festival 2024, with Green Bones also winning Best Picture at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival.
In addition to his filmmaking achievements, Zig directed culturally significant drama series for the Philippines' largest TV network, including Sahaya, Legal Wives, and Maria Clara at Ibarra. His reputation as a filmmaker of international caliber earned him invitations to serve as a jury member at prestigious film festivals such as the Vesoul International Film Festival for Asian Cinema in France (2022), the Kaş International Film Festival in Turkey (2023), and the Harlem International Film Festival in New York, USA. Recently, he was honored with the Best Director Award at the 1st Manila International Film Festival held in Hollywood, USA. In 2024, he was named among Tatler Asia Gen. T’s Leaders of Tomorrow, cementing his place as one of Asia’s most influential creative voices.
