Zig Madamba Dulay (born January 2, 1987) is a Filipino independent filmmaker, TV director, producer, screen writer, film editor and cinematographer. He is known for directing and writing several acclaimed Indie films such as The Bit Player, Black Rainbow, Missing, Bambanti and Bagahe. Dulay has directed and written several television series for GMA Network, where he serves as one of the head-writers and resident director. He has gained nationwide recognition after directing a fantasy drama series Maria Clara at Ibarra and the award-winning movies Firefly and Green Bones.
Early life and education Zig Madamba Dulay was born on January 2, 1987, in Santiago, Isabela, to a family of farmers. He is the 10th of 11 siblings. He pursued college as a scholar at the University of the Philippines Baguio and earned his degree in Communication, majoring in Journalism. He later obtained his Master of Arts in Creative Writing and Film from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
During his stay in UP Diliman, he became a protégé of script writer and director Armando "Bing" Lao, the founder of Found Story scriptwriting workshops. Dulay credited all his achievements to his late mentor.
Career
Early work (2011–2021) Dulay began his career in the entertainment industry in 2009. In 2014, he worked as a co-director for the television series Sa Puso ni Dok.
Breakthrough in television (2022) At the age of 36, Zig Dulay achieved significant recognition when he became the director of the Philippine television historical drama portal fantasy series Maria Clara at Ibarra.
In February, Dulay was invited as International Jury member at the 28th Vesoul International Film Festival in France. By September 2022, He presided as one of the jurors of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) for Sine ng Kabataan.
Recent work and recognition (2023–present) Following his success with Maria Clara at Ibarra, Dulay directed the award-winning film Firefly in 2023. In recognition of his contributions to Philippine cinema and television, he was named among The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 2024 in the Culture and Arts: TV and Film category.
Dulay served as Jury member at the 2023 Kaş International Film Festival in Turkey.
In 2024, Dulay was member of the jury panel for Narrative Film Feature at the 19th Harlem International Film Festival in New York, USA.
Filmography Film Year Title Credited as Notes Director Screen writer Editor Producer2009 Sa Paglaya ng aking Salita Latak or Residue 2010 Boy Toys Magkakapatid Casting director2011The Last Day in Baguio Cinematographer The Natural Phenomenon of Madness 2012 Qwerty Line Producer and casting director Posas or Shackled Story and screenwriter Ag Ignorantiam Crossroads The Strangers 2013 The Bit Player or Ekstra Story and screen play (shared with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Missing Philippino Story 2014Unfriend Senior The Commitment Co-producer M: Mother's Maiden Name 2015 Bambanti 2016Paglipay T.P.O Co-producer2017Bagahe Screen play (shared with Mikhail Red and Rae Red) Neomanila 2018Liway Screen play (shared with Kip Oebanda)2019Ang Aking Korona Children of the River 2021Black Rainbow Co-producer and acting workshop facilitator 2022The Baseball Player 2023 Firefly 2024 A Lab Story Creative consultant Green Bones 2025 Bar Boys: After School Screen play with Kip Oebanda & Carlo Enciso Catu
Television Year Title RoleNotes Network 2013—2018 WagasDirector and Screen writerGMA Network 2014 Sa Puso ni Dok Elemento Screen writer 2015—2016 Dangwa Director and screen writer2016Naku, Boss Ko! Screen writerConan, My Beautician Head writer 2015—2017Karelasyon Director and screen writer 2017 D' Originals Second-unit assistant director2018Sirkus Director and head writer Inday Will Always Love You Head-writer 2018—2019Tadhana Director and head writer 2019 SahayaDirector 2020 I Can See You Project Destination 2021 My Fantastic Pag-ibig Legal Wives 2019—2022 Magpakailanman 2021—2022 Stories from the Heart 2022—2023 Maria Clara at Ibarra 2024My Guardian Alien 2024—2025 Widows' War 2026 Whispers from Heaven
Awards and recognition
International awards
+ International AwardsOrganizationYearNominated Work CategoryResultCountryRef. 3rd Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2015 Bambanti or "Scarecrow" Hilal Best Feature Film Qatar Amsterdam International Film Festival2018Bagahe Best Foreign Language Feature Film (with Jed Medrano and Milgaros How) Netherlands Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language Feature Film Best Editing of a Foreign Language Film Asia Independent Film Festival 2018Bagahe Best International Feature Film Award India 19th Asiatic Film Festival 2022 Jury Award in Crime and Drama Italy Bogotá Film Festival 2014 M: Mother's Maiden Name Best Film Columbia Brussels International Festival of Films 2015 Bambanti Best Film Belgium ContentAsia Awards 2024 Firefly Best Asian Feature Film-Silver Medal Taiwan Cultural Diversity Film Festival 2022 Paglipay "Crossing" Best Director CanadaFilipino International Cine Festival (FACINE)2021Black Rainbow Best Film "Gold Award" United States of America Best Director "Gold Award" 2022 Liway Best Screen play (with Kip Oebanda) Harlem International Film Festival 2022 Black Rainbow Best Short Film United States of America5th International Film Festival for Environment, Health, Culture (IFFEHC) 2017 Paglipay "Crossing" International Award of Outstanding Excellence Indonesia Kaş International Film Festival 2022 Black Rainbow Jury Award Turkey London International Film Festival 2017Bagahe Best Language Feature Film United Kingdom Best Foreign Director LUCAS International Film Festival 2022 Black Rainbow Best Short Film GermanyMadrid International Film Festival 2015 The Bit Player or Ekstra Best Editing (with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Spain Malaysia Golden Global Awards 2019 Liway Best Film Malaysia Manila International Film Festival2024Firefly Best Film United States of America Best Director Nantes Three Continents Festival 2015 Bagahe Best Film "Golden Montgolfiere" France New York Festival TV and Film Awards 2017 Maria Clara and Ibarra Best Entertainment: Drama Program-Bronze Medal United States of America Prague International Film Festival 2022Black RainbowBest Foreign Language Short Film Czech Republic Vesoul International Film Festival2018Bagahe Best Film "Gold Cyclo Award" France 51st WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival "Gold Remi Award" in Crime and Drama United States of America 5th World Film Awards2017Paglipay "Crossing"International Feature FilmIndonesia Zagora International Trans-Sahara Film Festival2018Bagahe Special Critics Choice Award Africa People Choice Award
National awards
+ National Awards and Recognitions Organization YearNominated Work Category ResultRef.Anak TV Seal Awards 2023Maria Clara at Ibarra Household Favorite Program 45th Catholic Mass Media Awards 2023 Best Drama Series Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2011 The Last Day in Baguio NETPAC Trophy Award 2013 The Bit Player or Ekstra Best Screenplay(with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Missing Best Short-film 2017Bagahe Best Screenplay Special Jury Prize 2021 Black Rainbow Best Short Film NETPAC Trophy Award Best Screenplay Best Editing 2022 The Baseball Player EDDYS Awards 2019 Liway Best Screenplay (with Kip Oebanda) 2024Firefly Best Picture Best Director FAMAS Awards2014The Bit Player or Ekstra Best Story (with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Best Screenplay (with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Best Editing (with Glenn Ituriaga) Gawad Banyuhay Award2022Maria Clara at Ibarra Best Educational Program Gawad Dangal Filipino Awards Best TV Director of the Year 2025Green Bones Best Picture Best Director Gawad Urian Awards 2012 Posas Best Screenplay 2013 Missing Best Short Film 2016Bambanti Best Director Best Screenplay 2017Paglipay Best Picture Best Director Best Screenplay Best Editing 2022 The Baseball Player Best Editing 2024Firefly Best Picture Best Director 5th Gawad Lasallianeta 2023Maria Clara at Ibarra Teleserye and Green Zeal Award of Excellence 7th GEMS Awards 2023 Best TV Series 6th Golden Laurel Awards 2022 Best Drama Series Maria Clara at Ibarra 11th Golden Screen Awards 2014 The Bit Player Best Editing (with Glenn Ituriaga) Knights of Rizal 23rd International Assembly 2023 Special citation Maria Clara at Ibarra Luna Awards 2017 Neomanila Best Screenplay (with Mikhail Red and Rae Red) 2019 Liway Best Screenplay (with Kip Oebanda) 2022 The Baseball Player Best Editing Metro Manila Film Festival 2014 M: Mother's Maiden Name Special Jury Prize 2023Firefly Best Picture Best Director 2024Green Bones Best Picture Best Director Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence Platinum Stallion National Media Awards2023 Firefly Best Director Maria Clara at Ibarra Best Primetime Drama Series and Culturally Relevant TV Series PMPC Star Awards for Movies2013The Bit Player or Ekstra Indie Movie Screenwriter (with Antoinette Jadaone and Jeffrey Jeturian) Best Editing (with Glenn Ituriaga) 2015Bambanti Movie Director of the Year Indie Movie Screenwriter Indie Movie Editor Indie Movie Bambanti Original Theme Song "Tulog na" (with Gian Gianan and Alessandra De Rossi) 2016Paglipay Indie Movie Director of the Year Indie Movie Screen writer Indie Movie Editor Indie Movie Original Theme Song "Panata" (shared with Gian Gianan and Alessandra De Rossi) 2018 Liway Indie Movie Screen writer of the Year (with Kip Oebanda) 2021Black Rainbow Best Short Film Best Short film Director 2022 The Baseball Player Indie Movie Editor of the Year Society of Filipino Film Reviewers2022Black RainbowBest Live Action Short FilmSinag Maynila Film Festival2019Ang Aking Korona People's Choice Awards Best Picture Best Director Best Screenplay ToFarm Film Festival2016Paglipay Best Picture Best Director 17th UP ComBroadSoc Gandingan Awards 2023 Maria Clara at Ibarra Development-Oriented Drama Program (Special Citation) Urduja Film Festival 2016 Bambanti Best Picture 2017Paglipay Best Heritage Film Best Director
Honorary awards + Organization Year Work / Nominee Category Result Ref.Ani ng Dangal2016Bambanti - Brussels International Festival of Films AwardHarvest of Honors in CinemaZig Dulay2018Paglipay2019Bagahe - Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema "Golden Cyclo Award"2022Black Rainbow - LUCAS International Festival for Young Film Lovers AwardDepartment of Tourism (PH) - Cine Turismo2018Paglipay - CineTurismo Award Film Tourism Film Development Council of the Philippines2018Bagahe - Vesoul International Film Festival "Golden Cyclo Award" (Top prize) Camera Obscura Artistic Excellence AwardPaglipay - World Film Awards and International Film Festival for Environment, Health, Culture (IFFEHC) Awardee2nd Film Ambassador Night (FAN) - Full length film2019Zig DulaySine-Sandaan Luminary Award - New Voices of LuzonTV Documentary Category2020Bagahe - Zagora International Trans-Sahara Film Festival Award 4th Film Ambassador Night (FAN) - Feature FilmInquirer Indie Bravo!2016BambantiIndie Bravo Awards2017Paglipay2018Bagahe2022Black RainbowThe Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM)2024Zig Dulay - Firefly and Maria Clara and IbarraCulture and Arts: TV and Film categoryUniversity of the Philippines Baguio2023Zig Dulay Outstanding Alumni for Exceptional Achievements
Listicles +Name of publisher, name of listicle, year listed, and placement result Publisher Listicle Yea Result Tatler Asia Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 Placed References