Graduated the Mowelfund Film Institute in Manila.
His second feature film NAKED UNDER THE MOON screened in the 2000 Berlinale Forum. Since then his films have participated in films festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, São Paulo, Venice, Singapore, Sydney, winning numerous awards, including the Golden Leopard for FROM WHAT IS BEFORE at 2014 Locarno IFF, Alfred Bauer Award for A LULLABY TO THE SORROWFUL MYSTERY (2016) in Berlin, the Golden Lion for THE WOMAN WHO LEFT and Venice Horizons Award for GENUS PAN (2020) at Venice IFF.