Brillante Ma Mendoza

Brillante Ma Mendoza

Actor · Director · Producer · Writer

San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
July 30, 1960

Biography

Brillante Mendoza (born July 30, 1960), also known as Dante Mendoza, is a Filipino independent filmmaker. He is known as one of the key members associated with the Philippine New Wave. Mendoza is the first Filipino filmmaker to receive the Best Director award for his film Kinatay at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Other international accolades include Best Film for his 2009 film Lola at the 6th Dubai International Film Festival and Achievement in Directing at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for his 2012 film Thy Womb, which also competed for the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival. Mendoza's 2012 film Captive was shown in competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012. Taklub was also 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).

Photo

Brillante Ma Mendoza 1
Brillante Ma Mendoza 2
Brillante Ma Mendoza 3
Brillante Ma Mendoza 4

Representative Works

Nympho
Nympho
7.5
/ Tagalogian
Virgin Forest
Virgin Forest
5.1
/ Tagalogian
Until She Remembers
Until She Remembers
No Rating Yet
/ Tagalogian
Basang Basa
Basang Basa
7.0
/ Tagalogian
The Masseur
The Masseur
5.9
/ Tagalogian
Sabel Is Still Young
Sabel Is Still Young
4.0
/ Tagalogian
Hosto
Hosto
3.6
/ Tagalogian
Grandmother
Grandmother
7.2
/ Tagalogian
Thy Womb
Thy Womb
6.1
/ Tagalogian
Serbis
Serbis
5.9
/ Tagalogian
Palitan
Palitan
5.3
/ Tagalogian

Awards and Honors

Critical Favorites

Nympho
2025Nominee

Best Picture

Nympho

Venice 70: Future Reloaded
2013Nominee

Best Director

Venice 70: Future Reloaded

Virgin Forest
2022Nominee

Best Director

Virgin Forest

Career Highlights

Until She Remembers
2026Highlight

Best Director

Until She Remembers

Basang Basa
2025Highlight

Best Director

Basang Basa