Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Director

Main article: Metro Manila Film Festival

The Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Director is an award presented annually by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It was first awarded at the 1st Metro Manila Film Festival ceremony, held in 1975; Augusto Buenaventura received the award for directing the film, Diligan Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa and it is given to directors working in the motion picture industry. ^[1] Currently, nominees and winners are determined by Executive Committees, headed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman and key members of the film industry.^[2]

Metro Manila Film Festival Award for Best Director
Awarded for	Excellence in Cinematic Direction Achievement
Country	Philippines
Presented by	MMDA
First award	1975
Currently held by	Crisanto Aquino, My Future You; and Michael Tuviera, The Kingdom (2024)
Website	www.mmda.gov.ph/mmff/

Winners and nominees

Eddie Romero won in 1976 for his directing in Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon.

Mark Meily won several directing awards including his first win in 2003 in Crying Ladies.

Cesar Montano won in 2004 for his directing in Panaghoy sa Suba.

Brillante Mendoza won twice in 2012 and 2019 for his directing in Thy Womb and Mindanao.

Key	Explanation
‡	Indicates the winning director

1970s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
1975 (1st)	Augusto Buenaventura‡	Diligan Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa	[1]
1976 (2nd)	Eddie Romero ‡	Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon	[3]
	Lupita Aquino-Kashiwahara	Minsa'y isang Gamu-gamo
1977 (3rd)	Celso Ad. Castillo ‡	Burlesk Queen	[4]
1978 (4th)	Eddie Garcia ‡	Atsay	[5]
1979 (5th)	Lino Brocka‡	Ina ka ng Anak Mo	[6]

1980s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
1980 (6th)	Marilou Diaz-Abaya‡	Brutal	[7]
1981 (7th)	Mike De Leon ‡	Kisapmata	[8]
1982 (8th)	Ishmael Bernal ‡	Himala	[9]
1983 (9th)	Willie Milan ‡	Bago Kumalat ang Kamandag	[10]
1984 (10th)	Mario O'Hara ‡	Bulaklak sa City Jail	[11]
1985 (11th)	Lino Brocka‡	Ano ang Kulay ng Mukha ng Diyos?	[12]
1986 (12th)	Mario O'Hara‡	Halimaw sa Banga	[13]
1987 (13th)	Artemio Marquez ‡	The Untold Story of Melanie Marquez	[14]
1988 (14th)	Laurice Guillen‡	Magkano ang iyong dangal	[15]
1989 (15th)	Eddie Garcia‡	Imortal	[16]

1990s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
1990 (16th)	Gil Portes ‡	Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina?	[17]
1991 (17th)	Elwood Perez ‡	Ang Totoong Buhay ni Pacita M.	[18]
1992 (18th)	Ike Jarlego, Jr. ‡	Andres Manambit: Angkan ng Matatapang	[19]
1993 (19th)	Jose Javier Reyes‡	May Minamahal	[20]
1994 (20th)	None[Note 1]		[21][22]
1995 (21st)	Joel Lamangan‡	Muling Umawit ang Puso	[23]
1996 (22nd)	Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes‡	Magic Temple	[24]
1997 (23rd)	Chito Roño‡	Nasaan Ang Puso?	[25]
1998 (24th)	Marilou Diaz-Abaya‡	José Rizal	[26]
1999 (25th)	Marilou Diaz-Abaya‡	Muro-ami	[27]

2000s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
2000 (26th)	Laurice Guillen‡	Tanging Yaman	[28]
2001 (27th)	Chito Roño‡	Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure	[29]
2002 (28th)	Joel Lamangan‡	Mano Po	[30]
2003 (29th)	Mark Meily‡	Crying Ladies	[31]
2004 (30th)	Cesar Montano‡	Panaghoy sa Suba	[32]
2005 (31st)	Jose Javier Reyes‡	Kutob	[33]
2006 (32nd)	Jose Javier Reyes‡	Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo	[34]
2007 (33rd)	Cesar Apolinario ‡	Banal	[35]
2008 (34th)	Mark Meily‡	Baler	[36]
2009 (35th)	Joel Lamangan‡	Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love	[37]
	Rico Gutierrez, Don Michael Perez, Jessel Monteverde	Shake, Rattle & Roll 11

2010s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
2010 (36th)	Wenn Deramas‡	Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last na 'To!)	[38]
2011 (37th)	Tikoy Aguiluz‡	Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story	[39]
	Tony Y. Reyes	Enteng Ng Ina Mo
	Chris Martinez	Shake, Rattle & Roll 13
2012 (38th)	Brillante Mendoza‡	Thy Womb	[40]
	Ruel Bayani	One More Try
2013 (39th)	Joyce Bernal‡	10,000 Hours	[41]
	Chito S. Roño	Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill
	Wenn Deramas	Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy
	Marlon Rivera	My Little Bossings
	Frasco Mortiz	Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay
2014 (40th)	Dan Villegas‡	English Only, Please	[42]
	Erik Matti	Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
	Chito S. Roño	Feng Shui 2
	Jerrold Tarog	Shake, Rattle & Roll XV - (Ulam)
	Enzo Williams	Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
2015 (41st)	Erik Matti‡	Honor Thy Father	[43]
	Antoinette Jadaone	All You Need Is Pag-Ibig
	Randolph Longjas	Buy Now, Die Later
	Jose Javier Reyes	My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
	Dan Villegas	#Walang Forever
2016 (42nd)	Erik Matti ‡	Seklusyon	[44]
	Jun Lana	Die Beautiful
	Avid Liongoren	Saving Sally
	Babyruth Villarama	Sunday Beauty Queen
2017 (43rd)	Paul Soriano ‡	Siargao	[45]
	Loy Arcenas	Ang Larawan
	Julius Alfonso	Deadma Walking
	Rodel Nacianceno	Ang Panday
	Dan Villegas	All of You
2018 (44th)	Joel Lamangan ‡	Rainbow's Sunset	[46]
	Yam Laranas	"Aurora"
	Enrico Quizon	"One Great Love"
2019 (45th)	Brillante Mendoza ‡	Mindanao
	Carlo Ledesma	Sunod
	Crisanto B. Aquino	Write About Love

2020s

Year	Director	Film	Ref
2020 (46th)	Antoinette Jadaone‡	Fan Girl	[47]
	MacArthur Alejandre	Tagpuan
	Christian Acuña	Magikland
	Dolly Dulu	The Boy Foretold by the Stars
	Easy Ferrer	The Missing
2021 (47th)	Jun Lana‡	Big Night!	[48]
	Carlo Francisco Manatad	Kun Maupay Man it Panahon
	Lawrence Fajardo	A Hard Day
2022 (48th)	Mikhail Red‡	Deleter	[49]
	Shugo Praico	Nanahimik ang Gabi
	Lester Dimaranan	Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told
	Joel Lamangan	My Father, Myself
	Paul Soriano	My Teacher
2023 (49th)	Pepe Diokno‡	GomBurZa	[50]
	Zig Dulay	Firefly
	Jun Lana	Becky & Badette
	Mae Cruz-Alviar	Rewind
	Derick Cabrido	Mallari
	Rado Peru, Rommel Penesa	When I Met You In Tokyo
2024 (50th)	Crisanto Aquino‡	My Future You	[51]
	Michael Tuviera‡	The Kingdom
	Richard Somes	Topakk
	Zig Dulay	Green Bones
	Pepe Diokno	Isang Himala
	Chito S. Roño	Espantaho

Multiple awards for Best Director

Throughout the history of Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), there have been directors who received multiple Awards for Best Director. As of 2019 (45nd MMFF), 11 directors have received two or more Best Director awards.

Director	Record Set	First year awarded	Recent year awarded
Joel Lamangan	3	1995	2009
Jose Javier Reyes		1993	2006
Marilou Diaz-Abaya		1980	1999
Erik Matti	2	2015	2016
Mark Meily		2003	2008
Chito Rono		1997	2001
Laurice Guillen		1988	2000
Eddie Garcia		1987	1989
Mario O'Hara		1984	1986
Lino Brocka		1979	1985
Brillante Mendoza		2012	2019

Notes

1. No "Best Director" award given.