Mae Czarina Reyes Cruz-Alviar (born April 30, 1974) is a Filipino film and television director. She is known for directing Star Cinema films such as Crazy Beautiful You (2015), Can't Help Falling in Love (2017), Four Sisters Before the Wedding (2020) and Rewind (2023).
Early life and education
Mae Cruz was born on April 30, 1974.[1] She has three sisters, and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.[2] Cruz attended elementary and high school at Colegio San Agustin – Makati, and later graduated with a degree in mass communication (major in film) at the University of the Philippines Diliman.[3]
In 1991, during her fourth year in high school, Cruz attended the shoot of a Swatch commercial starring her best friend Mikee Cojuangco and directed by Rowell Santiago, where she was inspired to enter the film industry.[4]
Career
In 1994, Cruz was initially cast in a brief speaking role in Mikee Cojuangco's debut film Forever for a party scene alongside future talk show host Patricia Daza, but although her and Daza's scene was filmed, it was ultimately cut in post-production.[4][5]
In 1996, Cruz was hired by the production company Star Cinema, beginning her film career as a junior production assistant for the fantasy film Magic Temple.[3]
In 2002, Cruz began directing episodes for the ABS-CBN anthology drama Maalaala Mo Kaya with the episode "Kurtina" starring Marvin Agustin. In 2004, Cruz directed her first film, a composite romantic comedy titled Bcuz of U, alongside John D. Lazatin and fellow first-time director Cathy Garcia-Molina.[6] She later directed her first solo film, the romantic comedy Babe, I Love You starring Anne Curtis and Sam Milby, in 2010.[6]
Personal life
Cruz met Benjamin Alviar in 1988 while attending high school at Colegio San Agustin – Makati, with Alviar leaving for the United States in 1992.[7][3] After meeting each other again during a high school reunion in 2011, Cruz and Alviar married each other in 2014.[7] Cruz has a step-son from Alviar's previous marriage in the US.[2]
Cruz is a long-time best friend of actress and equestrian Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who was her high school classmate at Colegio San Agustin.[4][5]
Filmography
Film
As director
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Bcuz of U | with John D. Lazatin, Cathy Garcia-Molina | [8] |
| 2010 | Babe, I Love You | ||
| 2011 | Catch Me, I'm in Love | [9] | |
| 2012 | Every Breath U Take | [8] | |
| 24/7 in Love | [10] | ||
| 2013 | She's the One | [11] | |
| 2014 | Bride for Rent | [8][12] | |
| Past Tense | [13][14] | ||
| 2015 | Crazy Beautiful You | [10][15] | |
| Must Date the Playboy | Serialized in iWant TV | [12][16] | |
| Everyday I Love You | [9][17] | ||
| 2017 | Can't Help Falling in Love | [18][19] | |
| 2019 | Unbreakable | [20][21] | |
| 2020 | Four Sisters Before the Wedding | [22][23] | |
| 2021 | Love or Money | [24][25] | |
| 2023 | Rewind | Entry to the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival | [26] |
| 2025 | Love You So Bad | Entry to the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival | [27] |
| 2026 | Remember † |
As associate director
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kailangan Kita | ||
| 2009 | In My Life |
As assistant director
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Kung Ayaw Mo, Huwag Mo! | ||
| Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay | |||
| 2000 | Anak |
Miscellaneous
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Lahar | Junior production assistant | ||
| Mara Clara: The Movie | Script continuity | |||
| Magic Temple | Junior production assistant | |||
| 1997 | Ang Pulubi at ang Prinsesa | Script continuity | ||
| Flames: The Movie | Script continuity | |||
| Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie II | Script continuity | |||
| 2014 | That Thing Called Tadhana | Story consultant |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–1999 | Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako | Assistant director | ||
| 2000–2002 | Pangako sa 'Yo | Assistant director Backpack director | ||
| 2002–2017 | Maalaala Mo Kaya | Director | 56 episodes | |
| 2003 | Wansapanataym | 2nd unit director | Episode: "Isa... Dalawa... Tatlo" | |
| 2005 | Mga Anghel Na Walang Langit | Director | ||
| 2006 | Maging Sino Ka Man | [28] | ||
| 2007 | Your Song | First episode | ||
| Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik | Second director | |||
| 2009 | The Wedding | 3 episodes | ||
| 2010 | Magkaribal | Director | 91 episodes | |
| 2014 | Hawak-Kamay | Third director | ||
| 2015–2016 | Pangako sa 'Yo | Sixth director | ||
| 2016 | Dolce Amore | Director | ||
| 2017 | La Luna Sangre | Guest director | ||
| 2018 | Sana Dalawa ang Puso | Director | ||
| Ngayon at Kailanman | ||||
| 2020 | Make It with You | |||
| 2022 | 2 Good 2 Be True | |||
| 2023 | Can't Buy Me Love | |||
| 2025 | It’s Okay to Not Be Okay | |||
| 2026 | The Loyalty Game |
Accolades
| Awards and Nominations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result | Ref. |
| Asian Academy Creative Awards | 2024 | Can't Buy Me Love | Best Direction (Fiction) | Won | [29][30] |
| FAMAS Awards | 2016 | Crazy Beautiful You | Best Director | Nominated | [31][32] |
| 2024 | Rewind | Nominated | [33] | ||
| Luna Award | 2024 | Best Director | Nominated | [34] | |
| Metro Manila Film Festival | 2023 | Best Director | Nominated | ||
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | 2016 | Crazy Beautiful You | Movie Director of the Year | Nominated | [35] |
| 2022 | Four Sisters Before The Wedding | Nominated | [36] | ||
| 2024 | Rewind | Nominated | [37] | ||
References
- 1.Cruz Alviar, Mae (February 20, 2024). "Thank you for your birthday greetings, well wishes and prayers!". Facebook. Retrieved May 8, 2026. My #golden1 birthday was made even more meaningful and memorable[...]
- 2.[2.2]Kakaiba Ka (January 30, 2025). Passion with a mission. YouTube (in Filipino and English). Event occurs at 8:57. Retrieved May 8, 2026. I always believe na siya [God] talaga yung gumagawa ng kuwento ng buhay natin, siya talaga ang best scriptwriter and best director.
- 3.[3.2][3.3]Lo, Ricky (April 17, 2017). "Direk Mae: Her films reflect growing maturity". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 8, 2026. Mae took up Masscom major in Film and Visual Communication at UP after finishing grade and high school at Colegio de San Agustin.
- 4.[4.2][4.3]Abunda, Boy (April 11, 2015). "Mae has made her mark". Philstar.com. p. 42. When she was in her fourth year of high school, her best friend, actress and sportswoman Mikee Cojuangco invited her to the shoot of her Swatch TV commercial.
- 5.[5.2]Daza, Pat-P (March 18, 2024). "Direk Mae Cruz-Alviar on 'Rewind' success, dream project". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 8, 2026. I first met direk Mae [Cruz-Alviar] in 1994 when Mikee Cojuangco launched her film career via 'Forever'[...]
- 6.[6.2]Garcia, Rose (March 18, 2010). "Babe, I Love You director feels lucky to direct Anne Curtis and Sam Milby". PEP.ph (in Filipino and English). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- 7.[7.2]Colegio San Agustin-Makati Alumni Association Account (February 20, 2024). "Benj and Mae Alviar (CSA Batch 91)[...]". Facebook. Retrieved May 8, 2026. Benj, coming from a divorce and Mae, married to her job and still single, met again at their 20th year reunion in 2011 and 3 years later, they got married.
- 8.[8.2][8.3]Javier, Humility (January 24, 2025). "WATCH: 5 Mae Cruz-Alviar movie scenes that show the different routes love can take". ABS-CBN.
- 9.[9.2]Lo, Ricky. "Direk Mae: Her films reflect growing maturity". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 10.[10.2]Tomada, Nathalie. "How director Mae Cruz-Alviar knew KathNiel would go a long way". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 11.Olaño, Kirsten (August 4, 2025). "THROWBACK: Dingdong, Bea, LizQuen + more, laugh out loud in 'She's the One' bloopers". ABS-CBN.
- 12.[12.2]"Looking back: KimXi in hit movies and series". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 13.Matalog, Patricia (February 2, 2023). "FULL MOVIE: Fantasy meets romance in 'Past Tense'". ABS-CBN.
- 14."Romantic comedy Past Tense set to win hearts". Gulf Times. November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 15."MOVIE REVIEW: Daniel Padilla shows genuine talent in Crazy Beautiful You; Kathryn Bernardo appears ready for more mature roles". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 16.Mendoza, Arvin (September 2, 2015). "IN PHOTOS: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim star in 'Must Date the Playboy'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 17."Liza Soberano-Enrique Gil movie will have Gerald Anderson as third wheel". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 18."KathNiel movie director scolds fans posting behind-the-scenes photos". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 19.Belmonte, Maureen Marie (April 18, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Can't Help Falling In Love' is director Mae Cruz-Alviar's 'last' film". ABS-CBN.
- 20.Escuadro, Kiko (November 21, 2019). "Direk Mae Cruz Alviar, handa na sa kanyang pagbabalik-buhay pelikula". ABS-CBN.
- 21."Direk Mae Cruz-Alviar, nabigo sa kanyang planong magka-baby". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 22.Santos, Rhea Manila (December 1, 2020). "Director Mae Cruz-Alviar on shooting 'Four Sisters Before the Wedding': 'Never a dull moment'". ABS-CBN.
- 23.Arcadio, Ryan (October 30, 2020). "'Four Sisters Before the Wedding' wraps up filming". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 24.Basco, Karl Cedrick (February 8, 2021). "Love or money: Ano ang mas matimbang para kay Angelica Panganiban?". ABS-CBN.
- 25.Barretto, Jennifer (March 17, 2021). "Filipino director Mae Cruz-Alviar explains what it was like filming in Dubai for new movie". Gulf News. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 26."LOOK: Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes to co-star in new movie after 13 years". Rappler. June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- 27.Mallorca, Hannah (August 21, 2025). "Will Ashley, Bianca de Vera, Dustin Yu star in new film 'Love You So Bad'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
- 28.Gallardo, Ricky T.; Vibas, Danny (January 29, 2008). "Three cheers for primetime TV". The Manila Times. Vol. 109, no. 110. p. C1. Retrieved May 8, 2026. [Erick] Reyes is credited (Alongside director Mae Cruz) for a good job with the first season of Maging Sino Ka Man[...]
- 29."ABS-CBN bags 8 national awards at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards". ABS-CBN. September 27, 2024.
- 30.Santiago, Erwin. "Kathryn, Dingdong, Michael V among Asian Academy Creative Awards 2024 National winners". PEP.ph. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- 31.Villano, Alexa (November 30, 2016). "FULL LIST: Nominees, FAMAS Awards 2016". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- 32.Fernando, Jeff (November 29, 2016). "ABS-CBN personalities and films dominate 2016 FAMAS Awards nominees list". ABS-CBN.
- 33.Abad, Ysa (May 7, 2024). "FULL LIST: Nominees, 2024 FAMAS Awards". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- 34.Evangelista, Jessica Ann (July 2, 2024). "Kathryn Bernardo, Cedrick Juan among 40th Luna Awards nominees". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- 35.Villano, Alexa (March 6, 2016). "FULL LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2016". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- 36."LIST: Nominees for the 37th Star Awards for Movies released". ABS-CBN. September 19, 2022.
- 37.Purnell, Kristofer. "'Firefly,' 'Rewind,' 'Mallari,' 'GomBurZa' lead 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies nominees". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 18, 2025.