Brillante Mendoza

A beacon of Filipino cinema, Brillante Mendoza was born in 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines and began his directing career in 2005. He is renowned for his gritty, realistic dramas and has made his mark in the world cinema scene with films such as "Kinatay," "Serbis," and "Ma' Rosa," the latter of which won him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. Mendoza's authorial style is noted for its focus on the harsh realities of life on the fringes of Filipino society, often presenting these realities in a raw, unfiltered fashion.

Brillante Mendoza, a man who has not only given voice to the voiceless in his native country, but also challenged the global audience to confront the stark realities often ignored, is a true auteur, a master of his craft.