Brillante Mendoza
Brillante Mendoza (born July 30, 1960), also known as Dante Mendoza, is a Filipino independent filmmaker. Mendoza is known one of the key members associated with the Philippine New Wave.
Brillante Mendoza

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- Name
- Brillante Mendoza
- Born
- 30 July 1960
- Birthplace
- San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
- Occupation
- Film director
- Education
- University of Santo Tomas Brillante Mendoza (born July 30, 1960), also known as Dante Mendoza, is a Filipino independent filmmaker.
- Nationality
- Philippines
- Honours
- Cannes Best Director Award · Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres · Asia's Most Influential Philippines · Honorary Cyclo d'or · Sitges Film Festival Best Director award
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Brillante Mendoza • Born — 30 July 1960 • Birthplace — San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines • Occupation — Film director • Years Active — 1990s–present • Education — University of Santo Tomas Brillante Mendoza (born July 30, 1960), also known as Dante Mendoza, is a Filipino independent filmmaker. Mendoza is known one of the key members associated with the Philippine New Wave.
Career
Career
Mendoza was born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga. He took advertising arts of the College of Architecture and fine arts at the University of Santo Tomas. Mendoza has directed sixteen films since 2005, also he credited some cinematographer and production designer under his alias. His first collaborated with actor Coco Martin in seven films: Masahista, Kaleldo, Foster Child, Tirador, Serbis, Kinatay, and Captive. Mendoza directed the first and second State of the Nation Addresses of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Original title — Credited as — Notes • Director — Producer — Screenwriter — Production designer • 1985 — Virgin Forest • 1986 — Takaw Tukso • Private Show • Di Maghilom ang Sugat • Materyales Fuertes • Magic of the Universe — Salamangkero — With Arthur Nicdao • 1987 — Mga Lihim ng Kalapati • 1989 — Si Baleleng at ang Gintong Sirena • Gabriela • Valentina • Target... Police General (Maj. Gen. Alfredo S. Lim Story) • 1990 — "Ako ang Batas" -Gen. Tomas Karingal • Mula Paa Hanggang Ulo • Kristobal: Tinik sa Corona • Iisa-isahin Ko Kayo! • 2005 — The Masseur — Masahista — Story • 2006 — Summer Heat — Kaleldo — Story • The Teacher — Manoro — Also as cinematographer • 2007 — Fantasy — Pantasya — Also cinematographer • Foster Child • Slingshot — Tirador — Also as cinematographer • 2008 — Service — Serbis • 2009 — Butchered (The Execution of P) — Kinatay • Grandmother — Lola • 2012 — Captive • Thy Womb — Sinapupunan — Executive • 2013 — Sapi — Sapi — Executive — Also as cinematographer • 2015 — Trap — Taklub • 2016 — Ma' Rosa — Ma' Rosa — Executive • Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2016: Reflections — Asia sanmenkyô — Segment: "Shinauma" • 2018 — Alpha: The Right to Kill — Executive • Journey — Lakbayan — Segment: "Desfocado" Co-director with Lav Diaz and Kidlat Tahimik • Amo (TV mini-series) — TV mini-series, distributed by Netflix (international) • 2019 — Mindanao — Mindanao — Story • Verdict — Also creative consultant • 2021 — Gensan Punch • 2022 — Resbak • Apag — Executive — Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Entry • 2024 — Pula — Pola — Executive — Story — Premiered on Netflix • Motherland • 2026 — Until She Remembers
Awards and nominations
Mendoza is the first Filipino filmmaker to receive the Best Director award for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. His 2009 film Lola won the award for Best Film at the 6th Dubai International Film Festival. Mendoza's 2012 film Captive was shown in competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012. His 2012 film Thy Womb competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival and earned Mendoza the award for Achievement in Directing at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2012. Mendoza's film Taklub was selected to be screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Mendoza is one of the few people and is the only Filipino filmmaker to be nominated in all three major prizes from "The Big Three" (Cannes, Berlin, Venice). • Year — Film — Film festival — Category — Result • 1987 — Salamangkero — 3rd PMPC Star Awards for Movies — Best Production Design • Private Show — 5th Film Academy of the Philippines Awards — Best Production Design • Takaw Tukso — 11th Gawad Urian Awards — Best Production Design • Private Show • 2008 — Service — 2008 Cannes Film Festival — Palme d'Or • 2009 — Kinatay — 2009 Cannes Film Festival — Palme d'Or • Best Director • 2009 — Grandmother — 66th Venice International Film Festival — Golden Lion • 2012 — Captive — 62nd Berlin International Film Festival — Golden Bear • 2012 — Thy Womb — 69th Venice International Film Festival — Golden Lion • 2016 — Ma' Rosa — 2016 Cannes Film Festival — Palme d'Or • 2021 — Gensan Punch — 26th Busan International Film Festival — Kim Jiseok Award
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Brillante Mendoza, revision 1372503606 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dante Mendoza in 'Bottomline with Boy Abunda'. ABS-CBN News. June 25, 2010.
- 2.Brillante Mendoza - About.
- 3.Brilliante Mendoza: Philippines' celebrated and divisive director. CNN.
- 4.Filipino New Wave - Movie list. MUBI.
- 5.Pagdukot sa mga Burnham, isinapelikula. varsitarian. August 18, 2012.
- 6.Rappler. LOOK: Brillante Mendoza confirmed to direct Duterte's SONA. July 15, 2016.
- 7.Brillante Mendoza draws cheers, jeers in Duterte's 2nd SONA. ABS-CBN News. July 24, 2017.
- 8.Festival de Cannes: Kinatay. festival-cannes.com.
- 9.Dubai International Film Festival – 2009 Winners. dubaifilmfest.com.
- 10.First Films for the Competition and Berlinale Special. Berlin Film Festival.
- 11.Venezia 69. labiennale.
- 12.APSA Nominees & Winners. Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
- 13.Complement to the Official Selection. Cannes Film Festival. April 23, 2015.
- 14.Brillante Mendoza Film Awards – Carlo Valenzona. carlovalenzona.com.
- 15.Standard Publications, Inc. Jacklyn Jose, Joel Torre lead PMPC 3rd Star Awards winners. Manila Standard. 14. March 19, 1987.
- 16.Standard Publications, Inc. Viva Films dominates FAP nominees. Manila Standard. 14. March 23, 1987.
- 17.Dormiendo, Justino. Daybreak for 'Takaw Tukso', Nightfall for 'Gabi na, Kumander'. Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. 15. April 14, 1987.
- 18.Paul, Evelyn. Jacklyn Jose, 'Tukso' get critics' nod. Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. 6. May 8, 1987.
- 19.Standard Publications, Inc. 'Bagong Hari' tops 11th Urian nominees. Manila Standard. 13. April 21, 1987.
- 20.In Competition: "Serbis" by Brillante Mendoza - Festival de Cannes.
- 21.Best Director: Brillante Mendoza for 'Kinatay'. Festival de Cannes 2021. May 24, 2009.
- 22.Jennings, Sheri. Mendoza's Lola revealed as second surprise film in Venice. Screen. 2009-09-10.
- 23.Brillante Mendoza's 'Captive', other contenders at Berlin film festival. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Agence France-Presse. February 18, 2012.
- 24.Young, Neil. Venice 2012: Searching For The Golden Lion In The Festival's First Half. September 3, 2012.
- 25.MA' ROSA - Festival de Cannes.
- 26.Patrick Frater. 'Apartment' and 'Hometown' Share Busan Festival's New Currents Award. Variety. October 15, 2021.
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