Brillante Mendoza, the Cannes Film Festival Award-winning Filipino filmmaker, is set to direct the upcoming political drama Aid, starring Judy Ann Santos, Jeanne Balibar, and Stacy Martin.
The project is being presented to international partners at the Cannes Film Market, with Fire & Ice Media as delegate producer, joined by France’s Ghost City Films and the Netherlands’ Human Films.
Mendoza is an acclaimed Filipino filmmaker who has won a Golden Screen Award in the Philippines, along with two prizes at the Cannes Film Festival for ‘Trap’ and ‘Butchered’, and two awards at the Venice Film Festival for ‘Thy Womb’.
Aid follows an esteemed humanitarian officer, resolute in defending Indigenous Aeta children in the Philippines, who becomes immersed in the global system of international aid.
Judy Ann Santos embodies Ruby Dela Cruz, who leads a grassroots initiative for Aeta communities, while Martin portrays Angelique Dumont, a European executive directing aid efforts across Southeast Asia. Juliette Balibar, acclaimed for her collaborations with Desplechin, Amalric, Assayas, and Rivette, and known for her work on stage and in music, completes the trio.
Brillante Mendoza is known for critically acclaimed masterpieces such as Kinatay (2009), Ma’ Rosa (2016), Thy Womb (2012), Masahista / The Masseur (2005), and Lola (2009), while Taklub (2015) won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. His recent drama-romance film ‘Until She Remembers’ (2026) stars Charo Santos-Concio as Concha, Barbie Forteza as Angel, and Albert Martinez as Raymund.
Filipino filmmaker key noted movies Masahista (2005): Launched his career . Foster Child (2007): Critically praised for its moving, realist portrayal of temporary foster care.Kinatay (2009): thriller crime.Lola (2009): Thy Womb (2012):.Ma’ Rosa (2016).
MMFF triple awardee Judy first appeared in the television series Kaming Mga Ulila (1986). She later co-produced Ploning (2008) and starred in Mindanao (2019), both of which were selected as the Philippines’ submissions for Best International Feature Film at the 81st and 93rd Academy Awards, respectively. She is widely recognized as “Philippine TV’s undisputed Soap Opera Queen.”
