Brillante Ma. Mendoza was born on July 30, 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He studied fine arts major in advertising at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He started his career as a production designer in feature films, television, theater and eventually in television advertising for the past 10 years. His production design work was featured in acclaimed local films such as “Takaw Tukso” (“Flirting With Temptation” 1986), “Private Show” (1986), “Olongapo”, “The Great American Dream” (1987), and many others. In 2005 he formed a small independent production outfit called Centerstage Productions. CSP is a group of independent filmmakers who have brought honors to the country via feature films that won several awards and recognition in prestigious film festival here and abroad.

From feature films, Brillante then moved on to television commercial productions, and became one of the most sought-after and in-demand production designers. From 1990 to 2004, he designed the production for commercials of most major companies such as San Miguel Brewery, Asia Brewery, PLDT, Globe, Smart Jollibee, McDonalds, Procter & Gamble Philippines, and Unilever Philippines. This brought him in close working relationships with politicians and some of the biggest names in the Filipino entertainment industry.

His first feature film “Masahista” (“The Masseur”), made in 2005, won a Golden Leopard award (co-winner) in the video section at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, as well as the Interfaith Award in 2006 Brisbane Film Festival and the Audience Award in Turin.

His subsequent films won further major international awards. “Manoro” (The Aeta Teacher” 2006)  won the CinemAvvenire at the Torino Film Festival 2006 and Best Picture and Director awards at the Cinemanila 2006. “Kaleldo” (“The Summer Heat”) won the Netpac Award in Jeonju 2007 and the Best Actress Award in Durban 2007. “Foster Child” won the Best Actress award in New Delhi 2007, Special Jury award in Kazakhstan 2007, the Signis Award in Las Palmas 2008, Best Picture and Actress Awards in Durban 2008. “Tirador” won the Special Jury award in Marrakech in 2007, Caligari Award in Berlin Film Festival 2008. It was also given the Best Film, Director and Netpac awards in the 2008 Singapore International Film Festival. “Kinatay” won the Best Director award in the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

“Serbis” (“Service”) was in the main competition at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival becoming the first Filipino film to compete since 1984. It won Best Director and Actress Awards in the 2008 Pacific Meredian Film Festival in Vladivostok, Russia and Golden Kinnaree Awards in the Southeast Competition of the 2008 Bangkok Film Festival. “Serbis” (“Service”) is also the first Filipino film to be invited as official selection in the prestigious New York Film Festival.

He recently won the Best Director Award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for the film Kinatay. He is the first Filipino filmmaker to win an award from Cannes.

FILMOGRAPHY
2009 Lola / Grandmother
2009 Kinatay / The Execution of P
2008 Serbis /Service
2007 Tirador / Slingshot
2007 Foster Child / John John
2006 Manoro / The Aeta Teacher (doc)
2006 Kaleldo / Summer Heat
2005 Masahista/ The Masseur