Directing
JL Burgos
JL Burgos is an independent filmmaker/visual artist based in the Philippines. The majority of his works center on human rights. His latest documentary, Alipato at Muog, won the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya Film Festival XX. It also received the Best Picture and Best Director awards at the FAMAS Awards 2025 and Best Documentary, Best Editing, and Best Film at the Gawad Urian 2025. Before this, Burgos directed and produced two mid-length documentaries about press freedom and the right to self-determination – Portraits of Mosquito Press and Han-Ayan. Over the course of 20 years, Burgos has worked on short films, experimental videos, public service announcements, web series, and a TV show either as a director, cinematographer, editor, scriptwriter, producer, or a combination of roles.
Acting credits
10.0The brother of missing activist Jonas Burgos bares in this documentary the untold stories behind the confidential leads, damning evidence, and why the disappearance of his brother remains a relevant case today.
Flying Embers and a Fortress
2024
NRUncertainty and fear loom as Duterte threatens “quarantine violators” while dissatisfaction with the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response grows.
Shooting Covid-19: Media Frontliners in Manila
2020
NRThe documentary about the history and struggle for Press Freedom of Mosquito Press during the dark days of Marcos dictatorship.
Portraits of Mosquito Press
2015
Behind the camera
NRAt the first clash of their fighting spiders, Ilay and Ten-ten knew they would go home as losers. Anton, the winner of the fight, will once again lord over their school. At the sideline is Mel, a newcomer and a city boy, watching the rowdy play in awe, unaware that soon he will become an ally of Ilay and Ten-ten against the real neighborhood bully.
Ganggang
2026
NRAt the first clash of their fighting spiders, Ilay and Ten-ten knew they would go home as losers. Anton, the winner of the fight, will once again lord over their school. At the sideline is Mel, a newcomer and a city boy, watching the rowdy play in awe, unaware that soon he will become an ally of Ilay and Ten-ten against the real neighborhood bully.
Ganggang
2026
NRBrought by poverty, Petang and Cereno are driven into the realm of child labor to live by the clock. Film Weekly follows their journey as they step back to breathe and to be children once again.
Playground
2017
10.0The brother of missing activist Jonas Burgos bares in this documentary the untold stories behind the confidential leads, damning evidence, and why the disappearance of his brother remains a relevant case today.
Flying Embers and a Fortress
2024
10.0The brother of missing activist Jonas Burgos bares in this documentary the untold stories behind the confidential leads, damning evidence, and why the disappearance of his brother remains a relevant case today.
Flying Embers and a Fortress
2024
NRThe documentary about the history and struggle for Press Freedom of Mosquito Press during the dark days of Marcos dictatorship.
Portraits of Mosquito Press
2015
NRThe documentary about the history and struggle for Press Freedom of Mosquito Press during the dark days of Marcos dictatorship.
Portraits of Mosquito Press
2015