BRILLANTE MENDOZA FILM FESTIVAL AT SM

             Mallgoers recently had the rare opportunity to view internationally acclaimed film director Brillante Mendoza’s award winning films and to meet the filmmaker up close during the Brillante Mendoza Film Festival at the SM malls and cinemas.

 

            The festival showcased four of Director Mendoza’s films – Manoro, Kaleldo, Foster Child, and Lola – with each screening highlighted by a Q&A Session with the renowned filmmaker. The festival had students as its primary audience, paving the way for a new generation of film enthusiasts. But prominent members of the local community also attended the screenings to pay tribute to Director Mendoza, who had brought so many honors to the country.

 

            The film festival unreeled at SM City Clark, a homecoming of sorts for Director Mendoza, who is a proud Kapampangan with students from the Angeles University Foundation, Jocson College, and Sta. Maria Elementary School viewing his award winning films.

 

            It then proceeded to SM City Dasmarinas, where the director got a hero’s welcome from students of De La Salle University Dasmariñas, Emilio Aguinaldo College, FEU Silang, as well as the Sisters of Mary Boys Town and Sisters of Mary Girls Town Schools.

 

            The event at SM City San Lazaro was a sentimental one, as these were special screenings for the University of Santo Tomas, of which Director Mendoza was an alumnus.  And not even the habagat during that time could stop the faculty and students from honoring him.

 

            Other film festival stops were at SM City Santa Rosa with students from the Alpha Angelicum Academy and the Santa Rosa Educational Institution; and SM City Batangas attended by students from the University of Batangas, Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas, and Cristo Rey Institute of Career Development.

 

            At SM City Naga, the cinema was packed with students from Ateneo de Naga, Universidad de Sta Isabel, University of Nueva Careces, Naga College Foundation, Bicol Science of Applied Technology, St. Joseph School, Naga City Science High School, Camaligan High School, and Inuyunan High School.

 

            The same was true at SM City Marilao, where the films played to SRO audiences including students from St. Paul Bocaue, Meycauayan College, Sophia School, Felicitas Berardino Memorial Trade School, Bulacan State University, Dr. Yanga’s College, and Colegio San Pascual.

 

            More recent screenings were held at SM Lanang Premier in Davao and SM City Taytay.

 

            The Brillante Mendoza Film Festival is one of the many exciting projects of the SM malls and cinemas.