Toronto (Discovery), São Paulo, Locarno (Video Competition): Golden Leopard, Ghent, Chicago, Vancouver (Dragons & Tigers), Outfest (Features), London (World Cinema)

Synopsis

Iliac (Coco Martin) is a young guy who has moved from the country side to Manila, and is now working in a gay massage house in Manila in order to earn a living. His job as a masseur includes catering to the whims of his clients, which often include sexual favours. The movie introduces us to the seedy world of gay massage parlours, where we see the masseurs servicing their clients in adjacent cubicles.

In the movie, Iliac meets Alfredo (Allan Paule), a romance novelist who is his first customer of that evening. Over the massage, they each share a little of their stories and we soon find out that Iliac must return home to prepare for his father’s funeral, who has died after a long illness.

The masseur examines the roles that Iliac has to fulfil – as a masseur who needs to fulfil his professional obligations to his clients; and as a son who needs to fulfil his family responsibilities. As the movie progresses, we find our love lorn protagonist trying to win the affection of Alfredo.

Director

Brillante Mendoza

Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza was born on July 30, 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He finished Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas where he majored in Advertising. His career began as a Production Designer in feature films, television, and theatre. His mastery over production design was featured in acclaimed local films such as Takaw Tukso (Flirting With Temptation, 1986), Private Show (1986), Olongapo (1984), The Great American Dream (1987), and many others. In 2005, Mendoza founded Centerstage Productions (CSP), an independent film production outfit. This film out fit produced feature films that gained several awards in local and international film festivals. As a production designer for feature films, he moved to television commercial productions and became one of the most sought after production designers. From 1990 to 2004, he focused his career as an Art Director for television commercials for national and multi-national… read more

Director Brillante Ma. Mendoza was born on July 30, 1960 in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines. He finished Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas where he majored in Advertising. His career began as a Production Designer in feature films, television, and theatre. His mastery over production design was featured in acclaimed local films such as Takaw Tukso (Flirting With Temptation, 1986), Private Show (1986), Olongapo (1984), The Great American Dream (1987), and many others. In 2005, Mendoza founded Centerstage Productions (CSP), an independent film production outfit. This film out fit produced feature films that gained several awards in local and international film festivals. As a production designer for feature films, he moved to television commercial productions and became one of the most sought after production designers. From 1990 to 2004, he focused his career as an Art Director for television commercials for national and multi-national advertisers: San Miguel Brewery, Asia Brewery, PLDT, Globe Telecom, Smart Telecommunications, Procter & Gamble Philippines, and Unilever Philippines.

In 2005 Mendoza ventured into feature film not as a production designer but as a director. His first feature film Masahista (The Masseur, 2005) won the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. The film also won the Interfaith Award in 2006 in the Brisbane Film Festival and the Audience award in the Turin International Film Festival. This started his career as a film director.

Mendoza’s subsequent films further won major international awards: Manoro (The Aeta Teacher, 2006) won the CinemAvvenir at the 2006 Torino Film Festival for Best Film, and for Best Picture and Best Director awards at the Cinemanila 2006; Kaleldo (Summer Heat, 2006) won the Netpac Award and Best Actress Award in Durban, 2007; Foster Child (2007) won the Best Actress at New Delhi International Film Festival, Special Jury award at the 2007 International Eurasia Film Festival in Kazakhstan, the Signis Award in the 2008 Las Palmas International Film Festival, and Best Picture and Best Actress awards in Durban, 2008; Tirador (Slingshot, 2007) won the Special Jury Award in the 2007 Marrakech International Film Festival and the Caligari Prize Award at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival. It was also given the Best Film, Best Director, and Netpac Awards in the 2008 Singapore International Film Festival.

Serbis won the Best Film and Best Actress awards in the Pacific Meredian Film Festival in Vladivostok, Russia, and the Golden Kinnaree Awards in Bangkok Film Festival in 2008. Serbis is also the first Filipino film to be invited as official selection in the prestigious New York Film Festival. It was also the first Filipino film to compete at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2009 Mendoza did the film Lola which gave him numerous awards both local and international: 2009 Dubai International Film Festival, 2010 Miami International Film Festival Grand Knight Award, 2010 Las Palmas International Film Festival: Golden Lady Harimaguada, Best Actress, Best Cinematography; 2010 Asia pacific Award, Best Actress.

He is regarded by the world’s film critics as an Ultra-neo-realist for his films that depict social realities and the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Mendoza uses these social realities as the backdrop of characters on issues that plague the country, Brillante Ma. Mendoza is the First Filipino to win the Best Director award at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival for his picture Kinatay, besting other world renowned directors.

Brillante’s films depict social realities about the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary situations against the backdrop of issues that plague the country.

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