Brillante Ma Mendoza (born on 30 July 1960) is a Filipino director. He is best known for directing the films Masahista (2005), Kaleldo (2006), Foster Child (2007), Serbis (2008), Kinatay (2009), Thy Womb (2012), Ma’ Rosa (2016), and Mindanao (2019), among others.
Brillante Ma Mendoza
Brillante Mendoza is a Filipino director born in San Fernando, Pampanga, celebrated for raw, handheld films examining poverty and social decay in the Philippines. Serbis, following a family running a decaying pornographic movie theater, established his gritty, immersive visual style capturing the chaos of Filipino urban life in long, unbroken takes. Kinatay, following a police academy student drawn into a brutal gang murder over a single harrowing night, won Mendoza the Best Director award at Cannes despite provoking strong critical division over its unflinching violence. Ma' Rosa, following a small-time drug-dealing mother's arrest and the family's desperate scramble to bribe corrupt police for her release, extended his unsparing examination of Filipino poverty and institutional corruption. Mendoza's raw, handheld immediacy and unflinching engagement with Filipino social decay have made him one of the most internationally significant contemporary Filipino directors.
Brillante Ma Mendoza
38 Directed
1 Series
Brillante Mendoza is a Filipino director born in San Fernando, Pampanga, celebrated for raw, handheld films examining poverty and social decay in the Philippines. Serbis, following a family running a decaying pornographic movie theater, established his gritty, immersive visual style capturing the chaos of Filipino urban life in long, unbroken takes. Kinatay, following a police academy student drawn into a brutal gang murder over a single harrowing night, won Mendoza the Best Director award at Cannes despite provoking strong critical division over its unflinching violence. Ma' Rosa, following a small-time drug-dealing mother's arrest and the family's desperate scramble to bribe corrupt police for her release, extended his unsparing examination of Filipino poverty and institutional corruption. Mendoza's raw, handheld immediacy and unflinching engagement with Filipino social decay have made him one of the most internationally significant contemporary Filipino directors.
Movies
Director
Virgin Forest
2022
Director
Palitan
2021
Director
Captive
2012
Director
Sisid
2022
Director
Serbis
2008
Director
The Masseur
2005
Director
Grandmother
2009
Director
Thy Womb
2012
Director
Ma' Rosa
2016
Director
Pantasya
2007
Director
The Execution of P
2009
Director
Summer Heat
2006
Director
Slingshot
2008
Director
Alpha: The Right to Kill
2019
Director
Bahay na Pula
2022
Director
Foster Child
2007
Director
Taklub
2015
TV Shows
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Habambuhay: Remembering Philippine Cinema
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Brillante Ma Mendoza and where are they from?
Brillante Ma Mendoza is 66 years old, born on July 30, 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines.
What are the most famous roles of Brillante Ma Mendoza?
Brillante Ma Mendoza is best known for directing The Execution of P, Captive, Serbis.
How many movies has Brillante Ma Mendoza directed?
Over a 21-year career (since 2005), Brillante Ma Mendoza has directed or written 38 films and worked on 1 TV shows.
What was Brillante Ma Mendoza's first movie?
The career of Brillante Ma Mendoza began with Chameleon ().
What is Brillante Ma Mendoza's most recent movie or series?
Brillante Ma Mendoza's most recent release is Until She Remembers, which premiered on February 25, 2026.
What TV shows has Brillante Ma Mendoza created or directed?
On television, Brillante Ma Mendoza has appeared in AMO.
Brillante Ma Mendoza
1960-07-30 · San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
Brillante Ma Mendoza (born on 30 July 1960) is a Filipino director. He is best known for directing the films Masahista (2005), Kaleldo (2006), Foster Child (2007), Serbis (2008), Kinatay (2009), Thy Womb (2012), Ma' Rosa (2016), and Mindanao (2019), among others.