Christian Paolo Lat
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Christian Paolo Lat is a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker, writer, producer, and actor whose artistic journey began in front of the camera. He first gained recognition as a performer, winning Best Actor at the Creation International Film Festival for the French-Canadian film Pur Laine. This early accolade affirmed his talent but also ignited his desire to tell stories from behind the lens.
In 2022, he earned critical acclaim with Ginhawa (Cinemalaya), marking his breakthrough as a director in the Philippines. The film went on to garner wide recognition: Ruby Ruiz won Best Supporting Actress at Cinemalaya 2022, Derek Ramsay received Best Actor at the 60th Asia-Pacific Film Festival (2023), and the film itself earned nominations at the Pinoy Rebyu Awards, the Eddy's, and the Gawad Urian Awards. Internationally, Ginhawa was nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress at the Asean International Film Festival, and was showcased at the Brunei Film Blitz.
Building on this momentum, Lat worked extensively in North America, serving as a creator, director, and writer for the For Us, By Us Network (FUBU) and UrbanflixTV, where he directed top-rated series including Broken Seeds, Cocaine Sisters (Hollywood, California), and Heaux Phase (Atlanta, Georgia). These projects further established his versatility across both television and film.
His most recent work, Journeyman, became one of the standout films at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, where it was chosen as a finalist out of 140 entries and went on to win the International Jury Prize, multiple commendations, and the title of Best Film of the Quarter. Lat both directed and starred in the film, continuing his tradition of merging performance with direction in ways that resonate deeply with audiences.
Through his company, Black Toro Productions, Lat is committed to creating commercial, editorial, and narrative work that elevates Filipino cinema on the global stage. Today, he is recognized as a multi-hyphenate creative whose journey from award-winning actor to visionary filmmaker reflects his mission: to tell stories that are both emotionally resonant and internationally relevant.
In 2022, he earned critical acclaim with Ginhawa (Cinemalaya), marking his breakthrough as a director in the Philippines. The film went on to garner wide recognition: Ruby Ruiz won Best Supporting Actress at Cinemalaya 2022, Derek Ramsay received Best Actor at the 60th Asia-Pacific Film Festival (2023), and the film itself earned nominations at the Pinoy Rebyu Awards, the Eddy's, and the Gawad Urian Awards. Internationally, Ginhawa was nominated for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress at the Asean International Film Festival, and was showcased at the Brunei Film Blitz.
Building on this momentum, Lat worked extensively in North America, serving as a creator, director, and writer for the For Us, By Us Network (FUBU) and UrbanflixTV, where he directed top-rated series including Broken Seeds, Cocaine Sisters (Hollywood, California), and Heaux Phase (Atlanta, Georgia). These projects further established his versatility across both television and film.
His most recent work, Journeyman, became one of the standout films at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, where it was chosen as a finalist out of 140 entries and went on to win the International Jury Prize, multiple commendations, and the title of Best Film of the Quarter. Lat both directed and starred in the film, continuing his tradition of merging performance with direction in ways that resonate deeply with audiences.
Through his company, Black Toro Productions, Lat is committed to creating commercial, editorial, and narrative work that elevates Filipino cinema on the global stage. Today, he is recognized as a multi-hyphenate creative whose journey from award-winning actor to visionary filmmaker reflects his mission: to tell stories that are both emotionally resonant and internationally relevant.
