Veteran director Francis ‘Jun’ Posadas dies at 76

Veteran filmmaker Francis “Jun” Posadas, known for his work in action, drama, and adult films during the 1980s and 1990s, has died. He was 76. 

Posadas’ death was confirmed by his daughter, Susan Kelly, through a Facebook post on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. 

“Direk Francis Jun Posadas packed up. I love you so much, my father,” captioned Susan alongside a black and white picture of her father. 

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In the comments section, condolences poured in from real life and industry friends. Producer Dennis Evangelista was among those who paid tribute to the late director. 

“I’ve worked with Direk Francis Jun Posadas as his scriptwriter in ‘ Tampisaw, ‘ ‘ Masarap Na Pugad ‘ (where he brought me for an ocular in Palawan), ‘ Balat-Sibuyas ,’ and ‘ Sex Scandal. ‘ A great director and good friend. Rest in peace, Direk. Condolences to his family!!!” wrote Evangelista on Facebook. 

Posadas gained a household name in the local film industry through his work in “pene” or softcore erotic movies, a popular but controversial genre in the late ’80s. “Pene” refers to films that feature actual sexual penetration during sex scenes, which was usually demanded by the director for “the sake of realism.” The term is a play on the Filipino word “penetration” and “pelikula” (movie). 

In an interview with content creator Rhy TV in 2024, Posadas said that his decision to turn his back on the “pene” genre was because his children were getting older, so he later shifted his focus to action and socially relevant dramas, a move that defined much of his career. 

Aside from his movies “Itlog,” “Kaulayaw,” “Tampisaw,” “Bakat,” and “Kerida” that earned him a familiar name among bold film audiences, his most notable works were “Ambush” (1988), about clashes between the military and insurgents; “Cordora: Lulutang Ka sa Sarili Mong Dugo” (1992), a biopic of a police chief inspector that won major awards at the Manila Film Festival; and “Pugoy – Hostage: Davao” (1993), which dramatized the 1989 hostage crisis in Davao.

Posadas also directed the anti-drug film “Bawal Na Gamot” (1994) and its sequel, as well as “Ganti ng Puso” (1996), “Babayaran Mo ng Dugo” (1989), and “Sige, Subukan Mo” (1998), among others. 

Posadas continued to work in the industry in later years, directing independent projects and documentaries, including “Kuya: The Mayor Edwin Jubahib Story.” /edv