Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Mike de Leon

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756373100394540411703_1184661460373880_8303305288563934756_n.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>MANILA — Mike de Leon, the acclaimed filmmaker whose socially charged works such as &quot;Kisapmata,&quot; &quot;Batch ’81&quot; and &quot;Sister Stella L,&quot; shaped generations of Philippine cinema, has died. He was 78.His relatives confirmed his death Thursday to French film distributor Carlotta Films. No cause was given.The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) on Thursday paid tribute to De Leon, calling him a “visionary filmmaker” whose life was dedicated to cinema. “His consistent imagination to explore the language of cinema shaped what we understand of Philippine filmmaking today,” FDCP chairman Jose Javier Reyes said.De Leon, grandson of LVN Pictures founder Doña Sisang de Leon, first gained attention as cinematographer of Lino Brocka’s &quot;Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag&quot; (1975), widely regarded as one of the greatest Philippine films ever made. He went on to direct a string of influential works, from the supernatural drama &quot;Itim&quot; (1976) to the politically charged &quot;Sister Stella L.&quot; (1984), and the fraternity allegory &quot;Batch ’81&quot; (1982). His musical satire &quot;Kakabakaba Ka Ba?&quot; (1980) also remains a cult favorite.Known for films that tackle the abuses of power, De Leon often described his work as a response to authoritarianism and social repression. In 2019, he released the short film &quot;Kangkungan,&quot; a critique of the Duterte administration.After decades away from feature filmmaking, De Leon returned in 2018 with &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/03/11/18/movie-review-citizen-jake-is-mike-de-leon-at-his-angriest-bravest">Citizen Jake</a>,&quot; starring journalist-turned-actor Atom Araullo, which blended personal narrative with political critique.His films were celebrated internationally, with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2022/5/14/fresh-scoops/director-mike-de-leons-1976-film-itim-selected-200063">&quot;Itim&quot; debuting at the Cannes Film Festival </a>and a retrospective of his work screened at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2022.In later years, De Leon reflected on his career through the book &#x27;Last Look Back,&#x27; which he described as a photographic memoir of his life in cinema. In 2022, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/08/22/mike-de-leon-almost-did-a-makeover-of-citizen-jake">he told ABS-CBN News that he had been developing new projects</a> during the pandemic, including &quot;Unfinished Business&quot; and &quot;Sa Bisperas,&quot; a supernatural drama about fathers, sons, and mortality that he once called “Itim for those in the twilight of their years.”“Mike de Leon shone a light on the beauty and pain of the downtrodden and repressed, bringing their stories to the cultural forefront,” the FDCP said.Funeral details were not immediately announced.

Revered for his political voice and generation-defining works, Mike de Leon left an indelible mark on Philippine cinema with films that shone a light on the struggles of the marginalized.

Revered for his political voice and generation-defining works, Mike de Leon left an indelible mark on Philippine cinema with films that shone a light on the struggles of the marginalized.

Mike de Leon, director of 'Kisapmata' and 'Sister Stella L,' dies at 78

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Movies & Series

Mike de Leon, director of 'Kisapmata' and 'Sister Stella L,' dies at 78

ABS-CBN News

Published August 28, 2025 05:37 PM PHT

Read More:

obituary

Mike de Leon

ABSnews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.