Mr. Lav Diaz’ film, The Essential Truths of the Lake, premiered at the 76th Locarno Film Festival, one of the most prominent film events in Europe, on 6 August 2023 at Palexpo (FEVI) in Switzerland.

The film is one of seventeen competing in the Concorso Internazionale, the winner of which receives the Grand Prize, the Pardo d’oro (Golden Leopard). Mr. Diaz, one of the country’s foremost directors, has been awarded the Golden Leopard in 2014 for his film, Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon.

Awards night will be on the final day of the Locarno Film Festival on 12 August 2023. 

Joining Mr. Diaz’ at the premiere event are the film’s producers, Ms. Bianca Balbuena and Mr. Bradley Liew; co-producers, Mr. Jean-Christophe Simon, and Joaquim Sapinho;

and cast members, Mr. John Lloyd Cruz, Ms. Hazel Orencio, and Ms. Shaina Magdayao.