Jun Lana

Last updated

Jun Lana
Jun Lana in 2023 MMFF.png
Born
Rodolfo Robles Lana Jr.

(1972-10-10) October 10, 1972 (age 52)
Alma mater University of Santo Tomas
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • director
  • screenwriter
Employers
Awards Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
2019 Best Director [1]
2022 Best Film [2]

Rodolfo "Jun" Robles Lana Jr. (born October 10, 1972) is a Filipino filmmaker. [3] The winner of 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, he became the youngest member of the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2006. [4] In 2015, he directed the actual one-shot film, Shadow Behind The Moon, which won the Best Director, NETPAC and FIPRESCI awards at the 13th Pacific Meridian Film Festival. [5] At the 20th International Film Festival of Kerala, he won the Best Director award for the same film. [6]

Contents

Writing career

He was born Rodolfo Lana Jr. in Makati, and attended local schools.

Interested in writing from an early age, he began to write and submit plays in Filipino language to competitions. He has adopted Jun Lana as his pen name. At age 19, he received an "Honorable Mention" citation in the 1991 Palanca Awards in the category Dulang May Isang Yugto (One-Act Play in Filipino), for his play Eksodo. [7] The following year, Lana won Third Prize in the same category for Churchill. [8]

In the next eight years, Lana won nine more Palanca Awards for his Filipino-language screenplays and teleplays, including First Prizes for the screenplays Karinyo-Brutal (1995) and Mga Bangka sa Tag-araw (1996); and for the teleplays Sa Daigdig ng mga Taksil (1995), and together with Peter Ong Lim, for Pula (1997). [9] [10] [11]

In 2006, Lana's teleplay Milagrosa won his fifth First Prize Palanca Award and his 11th overall. With his fifth First Prize, Lana was inducted into the Palanca Hall of Fame.

Film and television work

Since 1998, Lana has written screenplays for such directors as Marilou Diaz-Abaya Mel Chionglo and Maryo J. de los Reyes. His screenplay for Diaz-Abaya's Sa Pusod ng Dagat (1998) won Lana the Best Screenplay award from the Brussels European Film Festival|Brussels International Film Festival in 1998. [12]

He has won two FAMAS Best Screenplay awards — in 1998 for Jose Rizal (shared with Ricky Lee and Peter Ong Lim) and in 1999 for Soltera (shared with Jerry Lopez Sineneng). His screenplay for Jose Rizal also won awards from the Metro Manila Film Festival and the Star Awards for Movies. In 2005, Lana's Palanca-award-winning play Mga Estranghero at ang Gabi (1994) was adapted for film by Rody Vera. Renamed Pusang Gala and directed by Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, the film was nominated for several FAMAS awards, including a Best Story nomination for Lana.

Lana made his film directorial debut with Gigil (2006), starring Katrina Halili. The following year, he wrote and directed Roxanne. From 2006 until 2014, Lana was employed by GMA Network, where he served as a creative consultant for the drama department, and as head writer of Magpakailanman and other shows. Lana also directs for television, sometimes in collaboration with actor Cesar Montano. For GMA Network, he directed his Palanca Award-winning teleplay Milagroso, which was aired as a television special and became a finalist at the 2006 Asian TV Awards. Lana has also directed television episodes for Love2Love, Wag Kukurap, and Fantastikids.

His 2012 film Bwakaw was selected as the Filipino entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. [13]

In 2014, Lana and frequent filmmaking partner, Perci Intalan, established The IdeaFirst Company, a creative content creation and consultancy company. The company has produced many films, which have been awarded in numerous screenings in the Philippines and overseas. [14] [15]

In the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, his 2016 film Die Beautiful won the festival's Audience Choice Award, and also the Best Actor award for Paolo Ballesteros.

In 2019, he won the Best Director Award for his feature film Kalel, 15 at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film had its world premiere in the Estonian capital where it was screened in the official selection. [16]

In 2023, his new feature Your Mother’s Son was screened at the Toronto Film Festival. [17]

Personal life

Lana is gay and married Direk Perci Intalan, a former TV5 executive, in a same-sex wedding ceremony in New York City on October 14, 2013. [18] Lana and Intalan were in an open relationship until their separation in December 2021. They consider themselves as best friends and co-parents to their content creation and artist management company, IdeaFirst. Lana is the vice president of IdeaFirst. [19]

Credits

Films

Accolades

Awards and nominations received by Kip Oebanda
Awards and Nominations
OrganizationYearNominated WorkCategoryResultRef.
Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2013Mga Kuwentong BarberoBest Narrative FeatureNominated
Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2017 Die Beautiful UNESCO AwardNominated
Asian Film Festival Barcelona2023 About Us But Not About Us Best FilmNominated
Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2012 Bwakaw Directors Showcase NETPAC AwardWon
Directors Showcase Audience AwardWon
Best Film - Directors ShowcaseNominated
The EDDYS 2017Die BeautifulBest DirectorNominated
2022 Big Night! Nominated
Best ScreenplayWon
2024About Us But Not About UsBest DirectorWon
Best ScreenplayWon
Becky and Badette ("Finggah Lickin")Best Original Theme Song (shared with Eugene Domingo, Teresa Barrozo, Erika Estacio, Elmer Gatchalian)Nominated
FAMAS Awards 1999 José Rizal Best Screenplay (shared with Ricky Lee, Peter Ong Lim)Won
2000 Soltera Best Screenplay (shared with Jerry Lopez Sineneng)Won
2002New MoonBest Screenplay (shared with Ricky Lee)Won
2006Stray CatsBest Screenplay (shared with Rody Vera)Nominated
Best StoryNominated
2019 Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes Best Original Screenplay (shared with Elmer Gatchalian)Nominated
2020 Kalel, 15 Best ScreenplayNominated
Best Director Nominated
2022 Big Night!Best ScreenplayWon
Best DirectorNominated
2025 And the Breadwinner Is... Best DirectorNominated
Five Flavours Asian Film Festival2015Anino sa Likod ng BuwanBest FilmNominated [20]
Fribourg International Film Festival 2013BwakawGrand PrixNominated
Gawad Urian Awards 1999 Sa Pusod ng Dagat Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Nominated
2013 BwakawBest Picture (Pinakamahusay na Pelikula) (shared with Antonio P. Tuviera, Ferdinand Lapuz, Ramel David, Jojo Oconer, Michael Tuviera)Nominated
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated
Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Nominated
2015 Mga Kuwentong BarberoNominated [21]
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated
2016 Anino sa Likod ng BuwanBest Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Nominated [22]
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated
2020 Kalel, 15Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Won [23]
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated [24]
2022 Big Night!Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Nominated
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated
2024 About Us But Not About UsBest Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula)Won
Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon)Nominated
Golden Screen Awards2006Stray CatsBest Adapted Screenplay (shared with Rody Vera)Nominated
2013BwakawBest StoryWon
Best Original ScreenplayWon
Best DirectorWon
Hawaii International Film Festival 2012BwakawNarrative Feature Halekulani Golden Orchid AwardNominated
Hong Kong International Film Festival 2013Mga Kuwentong BarberoSignis AwardNominated
2014BwakawNominated
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2015Anino sa Likod ng BuwanIndependent CameraNominated [20]
Kerala International Film Festival 2015Anino sa Likod ng BuwanGolden Crow Pheasant (shared with Ferdinand Lapuz)Nominated
Best DirectorWon [25]
L.A. Outfest2013BwakawOutstanding International Narrative Feature Grand Jury AwardNominated
London Web Fest2021Pearl Next DoorBest Web Series (shared with Ivan Andrew Payawal, Perci M. Intalan)Nominated
Luna Award 2000SolteraBest Screenplay (shared with Jerry Lopez Sineneng)Nominated
2013 BwakawBest ScreenplayNominated
Best DirectorNominated
2017 Die BeautifulBest DirectorWon [26] [27]
2024 About Us But Not About UsBest ScreenplayWon [28] [29]
Madrid International Film Festival2014Mga Kuwentong BarberoBest DirectorWon [30]
Metro Manila Film Festival 1998 José Rizal Best Original Story (shared with Ricky Lee and Peter Lim)Won
Best Screenplay (shared with Ricky Lee and Peter Lim)Won
1999 Muro Ami Best Story (shared with Ricky Lee and Marilou Diaz-Abaya)Won
2016Die Beautiful Best Director Nominated
2021Big Night!Won
Best ScreenplayWon
2023Becky and BadetteBest Original Theme Song (shared with Eugene Domingo, Teresa Barrozo, Elmer Gatchalian, Erika Estacio)Won
Best DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
Montreal Independent Film Festival2021Pearl Next DoorBest TV Pilot (shared with Ivan Andrew Payawal, Perci M. Intalan)Nominated
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022Big Night!Best FilmNominated
Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia Pacific Countries2015Anino sa Likod ng BuwanNETPAC AwardWon
Best Feature FilmWon
Best DirectorWon [20]
Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2019 The Panti Sisters Best DirectorNominated
Best FilmNominated
Main Section Audience Choice AwardWon
PMPC Star Awards for Movies 1999José RizalAdapted Screenplay of the Year (shared with Ricky Lee, Peter Ong Lim)Won
1999Sa Pusod ng DagatOriginal Screenplay of the YearWon
2009 Mag-Ingat Ka Sa... Kulam Movie Original Screenplay of the Year (shared with Elmer Gatchalian, Renato Custodio Jr.)Nominated [31]
Movie Director of the YearNominated
2012 My Neighbor's Wife Nominated [32]
2013BwakawIndie Movie Screenwriter of the YearNominated [33]
Indie Movie Director of the YearNominated
2015Mga Kuwentong BarberoIndie Movie Screenwriter of the YearNominated [34] [35]
Indie Movie Director of the YearNominated
2016 Anino sa Likod ng BuwanIndie Movie Screenwriter of the YearWon [36] [37]
Indie Movie Director of the YearNominated [38]
2017 Die BeautifulMovie Director of the YearWon
2019Ang Dalawang Mrs. ReyesMovie Screenwriter of the Year (shared with Elmer Gatchalian)Nominated [39] [40]
Movie Director of the YearNominated
2021 Unforgettable Movie Director of the Year (shared with Perci M. Intalan)Nominated
The Panti SistersMovie Director of the YearNominated
Kalel, 15Indie Movie Director of the YearNominated
The Panti SistersMovie Screenwriter of the Year (shared with Ivan Andrew Payawal)Nominated
Kalel, 15Indie Movie Screenwriter of the YearNominated
2023Big Night!Movie Screenwriter of the YearNominated
Movie Director of the YearNominated
2024About Us But Not About UsIndie Movie Screenwriter of the YearNominated
Summer Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 About Us But Not About UsBest ScreenplayWon [41] [42]
Best DirectorWon
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2019Kalel, 15Best DirectorWon [43] [44]
2021Big Night!Grand Prix for the Best Film (shared with Guido R. Zaballero, Sienna Olaso, Vitto P. Lazatin, Isabel A. Santillan, Ferdinand Lapuz)Nominated [45]
2022About Us But Not About UsBest FilmWon [46] [47]
Tokyo International Film Festival 2012BwakawAsian Film Award — Special MentionWon
2013Mga Kuwentong BarberoTokyo Grand PrixNominated
2016Die BeautifulNominated
Grand PrixWon [48] [49]
Udine Far East Film Festival 2014Mga Kuwentong BarberoAudience AwardNominated
Vesoul Asian Film Festival 2013BwakawGolden WheelNominated
High Schools AwardWon
Emile Guimet AwardWon
Grand Prize of the International JuryWon
Young Critics Circle 2024About Us But Not About UsBest ScreenplayNominated


References

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  2. "'About Us But Not About Us' wins Best Film in Tallinn". ABS-CBN News. November 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. "Jun Lana's historic win in Russian fest". Philstar Global.
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  5. "Jun Robles Lana, LJ Reyes win top honors at Pacific Meridian Film Festival in Russia". Rappler. September 23, 2015.
  6. "Lana wins in India". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 13, 2015.
  7. "The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature – 1991". Archived from the original on December 8, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
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