MANILA, Philippines - Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza is happy to be part of ABS-CBN News Channel's “amBisyon 2010.”

“I am very happy to be part of the project,” said Mendoza, the 2009 Best Director at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival for the controversial film “Kinatay (The Execution of P).”

"Ambisyon 2010" brings together 20 filmmakers, 14 of whom are already established names in Philippine cinema, with the aim of producing short films that tackle pressing national issues like poverty, population control, education, health, and others.

“I was given a topic to work on by [ANC]. This time it’s about poverty. Aalamin ko kung ano ang implikasyon ng kahirapan sa ating mga botante at kung paano ang sitwasyon ay makapagbibigay ng bagong pag-asa sa ating mga Filipino,” Mendoza said.

“I would also tackle the relevance of the elections this year at kung paano ang magiging buhay natin after the elections,” he added.

Mendoza has a wide and probing understanding of socio-political realities in the Philippines. In fact, he has featured these harsh social conditions in all of his films.

His films have been screened in many international film festivals where he earned various accolades.

He has yet to work on his 5-minuter docu-drama. The award-winning director said he will start shooting after attending the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.

The 50th Berlinale is giving Mendoza the honor of presenting a retrospective of his body of work. -by Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com