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.

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 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 2006 Summer Heat Kaleldo 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 2013 Sapi Sapi Also as cinematographer 2015 Trap Taklub 2016 Ma' Rosa Ma' Rosa Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2016: Reflections Asia sanmenkyô Segment: "Shinauma" 2018 Alpha: The Right to Kill Journey Lakbayan Segment: "Desfocado"Co-director with Lav Diaz and Kidlat TahimikAmo (TV mini-series) TV mini-series, distributed by Netflix 2019 Mindanao Mindanao Verdict Also creative consultant 2021 Gensan Punch 2022 Resbak Apag Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Entry 2024 Pula Pola 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 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