Lawrence 'Law' Fajardo is a multifaceted creative professional, exceling as a film and television director, producer, editor, and writer. His work often focuses on the Filipino people's struggles, particularly those of workers, and the characters' uplifting experiences. Many of his projects explore the fear of the known and the unknown.
Born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Fajardo is a graduate of Mass Communication and a student of the late Peque Gallaga. He has a strong connection to his hometown, which is recognized as a significant center of the Philippines' cultural and sugar industry.
Fajardo's latest film, Kintsugi (Broken),was screened at the Osaka Asian Film Festival and was a finalist at the Sinag Maynila Film Festival and Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. He also directed the Philippine remake of the Korean action film A Hard Day, which was an entry to the 2020 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival.
In 2005, his short film Kultado earned him recognition in the film industry, winning the Special Jury Prize at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and being shown at the Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival in France. This was followed by his debut feature film Raket ni Nanay, which won Best Sound and Editing at the Cinema One Originals.
Fajardo's notable works include Amok (2011),a finalist in the New Breed Category of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, which also won Best Sound and Editing in the Gawad Urian in 2012. The film won the Special Prize of the Jury Award at the Detective Fest in Moscow, Russia, and was screened at festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival in Korea and the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Scotland, UK.
In 2012, his film Posas won Best Film in the Director's Showcase Category at Cinemalaya, and successfully represented the Philippines in 12 festivals across 5 continents, including the Busan International Film Festival in Korea, the Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt, the Focus on Asia International Film Festival in Japan, the Kolkata International Film Festival in India, and the 20th Festival International des Cinemas d'Asie in France, where it won Best Film at the Hanoi International Film Festival.
Fajardo returned to his theater roots in 2013 with the staging of Imbisibol at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of the Virgin Labfest 9 and 10. In 2015, Imbisibol made its onscreen debut as an entry to the first ever Sinag Maynila, sweeping 7 awards including Best Director, Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. The film was shown at festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Tokyo International Film Festival in Japan.
The City of Bacolod has recognized Fajardo's achievements and contributions to the film industry. He continues to share his knowledge and experiences through workshops like the Palawan Protégé Project, the pioneering filmmaking summer workshop in Palawan, and others.
