FERDINAND DIZON LAPUZ is an award-winning Filipino film producer. He was born on December 2, 1965, in Angeles City, Philippines. He graduated from Holy Angel University in Angeles City with a degree in Business Management.

In 1990, he migrated to Canada, where he promoted Filipino films at international film festivals, including “Magnifico” (which won the Crystal Bear at Berlin in 2004) and “Woman of Breakwater” (featured in Directors’ Fortnight 2004).

In December 2003, during a visit to the Philippines, he met an upcoming actor named Coco Martin and shared a concept suited for him. This idea evolved into “The Masseur,” which became the first directorial work of Brillante Mendoza. The film was produced in 2005, premiered in Locarno, Switzerland, and won a Golden Leopard Award in the video section.

After the success at Locarno, Ferdinand decided to return to the Philippines in 2005 for good and worked full-time as a producer. He represented Mendoza’s “Foster Child,” which was screened in the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes in 2007. Their collaboration began with “Manoro” (The Teacher), which won the CinemaAvenir Award in Torino, Italy.

In 2007, they worked together on “Tirador” (Slingshot), which had its world premiere in Toronto and won the Caligari Prize in Berlin in 2008. Their first film to compete in Cannes was “Serbis,” based on Lapuz’s original concept. They achieved a rare milestone in 2009 when “Kinatay” competed in Cannes and won Best Director for Mendoza, while “Lola” competed in Venice.

Lapuz then decided to work as a freelancer to help other Filipino directors. His filmography includes “Jay” (Venice, 2008), “Bakal Boys” (Thessaloniki, 2009), “Cuchera” (Toronto, 2011), “Bwakaw” (New York, 2012), “Barber’s Tales” (Tokyo Best Actress, 2013), “Ekstra” (Toronto, 2013), “Hustisya” (Toronto, 2014), “Die Beautiful” (Tokyo Audience Award and Best Actor, 2016), “Pamilya Ordinaryo” (Venice Days BNL Award, 2016), “Bomba” (Warsaw Competition, 2017), “School Service” (Warsaw Competition, 2018), “Kalel, 15” (Tallinn Best Director, 2019), “In the Name of the Mother” (Oporto, 2020), “Love and Pain in Between Refrains” (Transsaharien, 2021), “About Us But Not About Us” (Tallinn Best Film, Critics’ Pick Best Film 2022), “Your Mother’s Son” (Toronto, 2023), “Lola Magdalena” (New York Asian, 2024), and “Sisa” (Tallinn Competition, 2025).

He received the Camera Obscura Award from the Film Development Council of the Philippines in 2018 and a Career Achievement Award from the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal in 2023. Additionally, he served as a jury member for the 2025 Harlem International Film Festival. He is also a member of the Asian Film Awards and the Asia Pacific Film Festival Awards.