Brillante Mendoza's Lola was awarded the Grand Jury Prize in the World Competition category at the 27th Annual Miami International Film Festival March 13.
Mendoza took home a $25,000 cash prize for his film about two elderly women trying to cope with the fates of their grandsons involved in a robbery-homicide. In an interview during last year's Venice Film Festival, Mendoza explained that the movie was inspired by a documentary that featured the elderly and the hardships they went through. The film was previously screened in last year's Cinemanila and Venice Film Festivals where it was heavily praised by critics. It also won Best Film in last year's Dubai Film Festival.
Mendoza talks about Lola at the Venice Film Festival
Kinatay, a film that won Mendoza his Best Director award at 2009's Cannes Film Festival, was also shown at the Miami International Film Festival as part of its Cutting Edge Category.
Just last week, Mendoza's Lola was chosen to as the opening film for the Deauville Asia Film Festival in France, reports the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP). His other previous works namely Masahista, Tirador, Serbis, and Kinatay were presented as a part of a tribute to Mendoza–the only Asian director to be included in the Cannes official competition for two years in a row.
"Kahit papaano, nakakainspire din 'yung trabaho natin sa ibang mga Filipino filmmakers. Hindi kailangan maging mahal, o maging malaki, o maging sikat 'yung mga artista para ma-recognize ka sa labas ng Pilipinas," Mendoza told GMA News.
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Mendoza is slated to fly to Hong Kong this Sunday, March 21, for the Asian Film Awards where Lola is nominated for Best Film, Best Director, and Best Editor, reports PEP. Lola is currently in competition at the Fribourg International Film Festival in Switzerland and at the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival in Spain. GMA News reports that the film has also been invited to the Denmark, Belgium, and Tribeca Film Festival in New York this year.
Lola will be theatrically released in Switzerland this April and in France starting May 5.
Enough of this konyo konyo thingie. That is one anomaly in the Philippines that should be erased from our Hispanic kuno culture. From movies to fashion to food to events, the konyos do not have the monopoly of taste. The reality is tastelessness does not discriminate.