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Mae Cruz-Alviar

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Mae Cruz-Alviar
Born Mae Czarina Reyes Cruz
April 30, 1974
Occupations TV and film director
Years active 1994–present

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. Back to citation 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. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 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. Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Back to citation occurrence 3.2 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. Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 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. Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 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. Back to citation occurrence 6.0 Back to citation occurrence 6.1 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. Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 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. Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 Back to citation occurrence 8.2 Javier, Humility (January 24, 2025). "WATCH: 5 Mae Cruz-Alviar movie scenes that show the different routes love can take". ABS-CBN.
  9. Back to citation occurrence 9.0 Back to citation occurrence 9.1 Lo, Ricky. "Direk Mae: Her films reflect growing maturity". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  10. Back to citation occurrence 10.0 Back to citation occurrence 10.1 Tomada, Nathalie. "How director Mae Cruz-Alviar knew KathNiel would go a long way". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  11. Back to citation Olaño, Kirsten (August 4, 2025). "THROWBACK: Dingdong, Bea, LizQuen + more, laugh out loud in 'She's the One' bloopers". ABS-CBN.
  12. Back to citation occurrence 12.0 Back to citation occurrence 12.1 "Looking back: KimXi in hit movies and series". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  13. Back to citation Matalog, Patricia (February 2, 2023). "FULL MOVIE: Fantasy meets romance in 'Past Tense'". ABS-CBN.
  14. Back to citation "Romantic comedy Past Tense set to win hearts". Gulf Times. November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  15. Back to citation "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. Back to citation Mendoza, Arvin (September 2, 2015). "IN PHOTOS: Kim Chiu, Xian Lim star in 'Must Date the Playboy'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  17. Back to citation "Liza Soberano-Enrique Gil movie will have Gerald Anderson as third wheel". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  18. Back to citation "KathNiel movie director scolds fans posting behind-the-scenes photos". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  19. Back to citation Belmonte, Maureen Marie (April 18, 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Can't Help Falling In Love' is director Mae Cruz-Alviar's 'last' film". ABS-CBN.
  20. Back to citation Escuadro, Kiko (November 21, 2019). "Direk Mae Cruz Alviar, handa na sa kanyang pagbabalik-buhay pelikula". ABS-CBN.
  21. Back to citation "Direk Mae Cruz-Alviar, nabigo sa kanyang planong magka-baby". PEP.ph. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  22. Back to citation Santos, Rhea Manila (December 1, 2020). "Director Mae Cruz-Alviar on shooting 'Four Sisters Before the Wedding': 'Never a dull moment'". ABS-CBN.
  23. Back to citation Arcadio, Ryan (October 30, 2020). "'Four Sisters Before the Wedding' wraps up filming". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  24. Back to citation Basco, Karl Cedrick (February 8, 2021). "Love or money: Ano ang mas matimbang para kay Angelica Panganiban?". ABS-CBN.
  25. Back to citation 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. Back to citation "LOOK: Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes to co-star in new movie after 13 years". Rappler. June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  27. Back to citation 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. Back to citation 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. Back to citation "ABS-CBN bags 8 national awards at the 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards". ABS-CBN. September 27, 2024.
  30. Back to citation Santiago, Erwin. "Kathryn, Dingdong, Michael V among Asian Academy Creative Awards 2024 National winners". PEP.ph. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  31. Back to citation Villano, Alexa (November 30, 2016). "FULL LIST: Nominees, FAMAS Awards 2016". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  32. Back to citation Fernando, Jeff (November 29, 2016). "ABS-CBN personalities and films dominate 2016 FAMAS Awards nominees list". ABS-CBN.
  33. Back to citation Abad, Ysa (May 7, 2024). "FULL LIST: Nominees, 2024 FAMAS Awards". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  34. Back to citation Evangelista, Jessica Ann (July 2, 2024). "Kathryn Bernardo, Cedrick Juan among 40th Luna Awards nominees". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  35. Back to citation Villano, Alexa (March 6, 2016). "FULL LIST: Winners, PMPC Star Awards for Movies 2016". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  36. Back to citation "LIST: Nominees for the 37th Star Awards for Movies released". ABS-CBN. September 19, 2022.
  37. Back to citation Purnell, Kristofer. "'Firefly,' 'Rewind,' 'Mallari,' 'GomBurZa' lead 40th PMPC Star Awards for Movies nominees". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
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