MANILA - Brillante Mendoza, the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival’s Palm d’Or best director, wanted to fly to Sitges, a coastal town in Catalonia, Spain, to attend the 42nd Sitges Film Festival awards rites last October 12.

He was, however, crammed in Paris, France where he was meeting with international distributors of his recent film, “Kinatay (The Execution of P).”

“We had a very intensive meeting so I could not go to Sitges although I was very excited to compete there,” said Mendoza in an overseas call Tuesday afternoon after winning the best director award in the Catalonian film event.

“Sa totoo lang, mula sa Pilipinas ko pa nalaman na nanalo ako ng best director sa Sitges and I am again very proud to have won the prize because Sitges is considered to be one of the most prestigious and commendable world film events in Europe.

“Tinawagan ako ng assistant producer ko na si Tony de los Reyes kaya nalaman ko na nanalo ako. I was so surprised dahil ang titindi ng mga kalaban ko, especially ‘yong ‘Moon’ ni Duncan Jones, ito ‘yong filmmaker na anak ni David Bowie. Malakas din ‘yong ‘Thirst’ ng South Korea ni Park Chan-wook,” exclaimed Mendoza.

Mercedes Cabral, a Filipina actress who played wife to rookie cop Coco Martin in “Kinatay,” was also featured in “Thirst” where her co-star, Kim Ok-vin, won the best actress award with Spanish actress Elena Anaya.

The Sitges award is the second best international director plum Mendoza had received after Cannes.

Teresa Barrozo also won one of the major technical awards for best original soundtrack for “Kinatay.”

“I’m happy for Teresa. Magaling talaga siyang sound engineer,” said Mendoza.

“Kinatay (The Execution of P),” a grim story on police corruption and criminal minds, will be shown in Paris in November, according to Mendoza.

The Catalan trophy will either be picked up or delivered personally to the independent filmmaker. -Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com