Independent filmmaker Brillante Mendoza arrived home Tuesday after winning the best director award at the recently concluded 62nd Cannes Film Festival in France.   

The independent film director said he feels fulfilled after winning the prize, especially since he defeated established filmmakers like Ang Lee and Quentin Tarantino. 

“Tayo maliit lang ang pelikula natin pero siyempre pag ganitong natatalo ang malalaking pelikula, we feel so fulfilled,” he said upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday.

Mendoza was named best director for his dark movie "Kinatay (The Execution of P).” This is the first time that a Filipino won the prestigious award.

Prior to the awarding ceremony, Mendoza shared that he and his group were told that they would win an award. “Pero hindi namin alam kung anong award.” 

He said he initially thought that his film would take home the Jury Prize. When other movie bagged it, however, he suspected that he would get the best director prize.

He is, meanwhile, dedicating the award to his daughter, said the director. 

Too violent?

Mendoza's film drew both hisses and applause during the festival. The director, however, is not bothered by bad reviews, saying a filmmaker cannot please everybody.

Critics also think “Kinatay” is too violent but Mendoza says otherwise. “Kung mapapanood niyo ‘yong ibang pelikula d’on (Cannes) mukha kaming children’s film. Hindi siya gan’on ka-violent.”

"Kinatay" notably features corrupt cops hacking a prostitute to pieces with blunt kitchen knives. It traces 24 hours in the day of a trainee policeman, happily beginning with his wedding in the morning to close with the young man's first outing at night with a band of corrupt colleagues.

“I’ll keep doing my kind of film kasi dito ako fulfilled hindi sa comments nila… maraming nagagalit, napakarami  ring natutuwa,” Mendoza said.

He added: “Nakakataba ng puso. Hindi ibig sabihin n’on (victory) mas magaling ako sa kanila (other filmmakers). It just so happened na itong pelikula ko bumagay sa criteria nila.”

Will “Kinatay” be shown in local cinemas? The director said it might be shown uncut at the University of the Philippines or Cultural Center of the Philippines.