5 Criterion Closet Picks to See in Case Lav Diaz Gets His Own Episode

We highlight five favorite episodes from the Criterion Closet series, featuring guests from Ayo Edebiri and Cillian Murphy to Filipino filmmaker Isabel Sandoval.

Lav Diaz’s Criterion Closet Visits

Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz has appeared in the Criterion Closet twice, first in 2023 and again in October 2025. Although his second episode has not yet been released, Diaz chose notable works including David Lynch’s Lost Highway and Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samouraï, alongside box sets such as Letters from Fontainhas: Three Films by Pedro Costa and Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema.

The Criterion Collection said there is “more to come,” hinting at a forthcoming episode featuring Diaz.

Comedian and Film Nerd Ayo Edebiri

Comedian and actor Ayo Edebiri approaches the Criterion Closet with enthusiasm, describing it as a candy store of films. Her picks showcase a range of styles and tones:

Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low and Stanley Donen’s Charade for their sharp precision and charm
Juzo Itami’s The Funeral for its biting satire
Charles Burnett’s To Sleep with Anger for its bizarre and dark humor

“Thank you, Criterion, for letting me in the closet. I was disgustingly greedy,” Edebiri says at the end of her video.

Looking Back at Favorite Criterion Closet Episodes

While waiting for Lav Diaz’s new episode, here are five standout Criterion Closet segments beloved by film fans, each showcasing unique film selections and passionate cinephiles.

Author’s summary: Criterion Closet episodes offer intimate glimpses into cinephiles’ favorite films, with Lav Diaz’s picks particularly anticipated by fans worldwide.

Rolling Stone Philippines — 2025-11-04