For the fifth time in his storied career, acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza is once again a major player at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival, its 70th staging.
This time, however, he is not entering a new film in competition or in exhibition but he will grace the prestigious film festival as a mentor to 10 up and coming directors from various parts of the world.
During the press conference for “Panata,” his latest made-for-television for his TV5 series, “Brillante Mendoza Presents,” Mendoza confirmed that he will be in Cannes from May 21 to 23 upon the invitation by Institut Française to be the “Parrain” or “Godfather” for the 9th edition of the “La Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde” event.
As Parrain, Direk Brillante will mentor 10 promising filmmakers from South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar and Peru.
“La Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde” is a professional program set up by Institut Française’s Cinema Department to encourage rising talents to develop their first or second long-term feature.
Mendoza’s mentorship role puts him in the same league as previous mentors like fellow filmmakers Jia Zhan-Ke from China, Claire Dennis and Sandrine Bonnaire from France, Walter Salles from Brazil, Raoul Peck from Haiti, Elia Suleiman from Palestine, Maria de Medeiros from Portugal, Pablo Trapero from Argentina, Rithy Panh from Cambodia and French actress Juliette Binoche.
Earlier, Mendoza also confirmed that “Amo,” his ongoing mini-series for TV5 had also been invited for screening in Cannes. This time, however, the director is mum on the show’s Cannes participation and declined to give further details.
During the same press conference held at the Director’s Club at the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall, Mendoza said he was very pleased with the outcome of “Panata,” his fourth for the series.
He added that despite working with a limited budget, he was able to tell the remarkable story of a Marinduque mask maker amid the backdrop of the traditional Moriones Lenten Rites in the province.
Starring notable indie film actors Kristoffer King, Felix Roco, Arnold Reyes, Sue Prado, Lou Veloso and Edwin Nombre, “Panata” is scheduled to air this Saturday, May 27 on TV5.
Watch the trailer here:
