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Brillante Mendoza

Brillante Mendoza

Director, producer and writer, also editor · Born July 30, 1960 (66) · San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

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).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 30, 1960 (66)
From
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
Works as
Director, producer and writer, also editor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 73 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 11% in 30 days

What are Brillante Mendoza's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
35%
Bonds
17%
Power
16%
Morality
11%
Self
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Survival7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 3 · Dark 8

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 2

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Dread
5
Melancholic
6
Contemplative
4
Bittersweet
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Unsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Brillante Mendoza's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brillante Mendoza's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

73 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Until She Remembers(2026)

    Director · Editor · Executive Producer · Producer · Production Design · Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Nympho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Producer · Production Design

  • Basang Basa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Motherland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • The Hearing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Executive Producer · Makeup & Hair · Production Design

  • Moro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · Executive Producer · Production Design

  • Moro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Hosto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Production Design · Writer

  • Feast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director · Executive Producer · Production Design

  • Sabel Is Still Young(2022)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Alapaap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Screenplay

  • Virgin Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · Executive Producer · Producer · Production Design · Writer

  • Gensan Punch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Pusoy(2022)

    Creator · Executive Producer · Production Design · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Bahay na Pula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Sisid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · Story

  • Palitan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Executive Producer · Production Design

  • Payback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Production Design

  • He Who Is Without Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Executive Producer

  • Broken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Executive Producer · Writer

  • The Revolution Knows No Gender(2020)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mindanao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Producer · Production Design

  • Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Gino and Marie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Story

  • The Crown Is Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · Producer

  • Alpha: The Right to Kill(2018)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Judgement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Executive Producer

  • Uno sguardo alla Terra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Amo(2017)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Motherland(2017)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ma' Rosa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Executive Producer · Production Design

  • Art Through Our Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Asian Three-Fold Mirror 2016: Reflections (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Imago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Producer

  • Taklub (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Modus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Balut Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Imbisibol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Ninja Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Scarecrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Swap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Executive Producer

  • Southeast Asian Cinema – When the Rooster Crows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Unfriend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Executive Producer

  • Possession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Cinematographer · Production Design

  • Venice 70: Future Reloaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Thy Womb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Production Design

  • Captive(2012)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Great Cinema Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • 60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Quattro Hong Kong 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Ayos ka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer

  • Butchered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Production Design

  • Grandmother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Production Design

  • Slingshot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Service(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Foster Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Pantasya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Manoro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Cinematographer · Production Design

  • Kaleldo(2006)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Masseur(2005)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sandakot na Kaligayahan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Production Design

  • Iisa Isahin Ko Kayo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Production Design

  • Kristobal (Tinik sa Korona) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Production Design

  • Mula Paa Hanggang Ulo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Production Design

  • Kunin Mo ang Ulo ni Ismael (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Production Design

  • Valentina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Production Design

  • Baleleng and the Golden Mermaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Production Design

  • Takaw Tukso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Assistant Director · Production Design

  • Private Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Production Design

  • Virgin Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Art Direction

  • Chameleon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 71 titles, 70 of them dated from 1985 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Service (2008)

$155K worldwide

Highest rated

Pusoy (2022)

Midcredits 74th

Most popular right now

Amo (2017)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 71: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting39 of 71: 15 only directing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score34thWriting12 of 71: 3 only writing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score35thProducing27 of 71: 12 only producing, 15 with another roleCinematography3 of 71: 0 only cinematography, 3 with another roleEditing1 of 71: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew28 of 71: 10 only other crew, 18 with another role

71 titles, 28 with more than one role — directing and other crew overlap on 15 of them.

By decade

1980s5 · crew1990s5 · crew2000s9 · crew2010s30 · 3 acting · 27 crew2020s21 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Brillante Mendoza's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 12 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · producer

The Revolution Knows No Gender (2020)

97th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Motherland (2017)

Midcredits 75th · 63% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 77/100 and the pacing 45/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Brillante Mendoza work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brillante Mendoza's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Boots Agbayani Pastor shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers