Alternativa Film Project announces the Jury for its inaugural social impact awards.

The Jury will the Awards’ First Edition To Be Led By Cannes Award-Winning Filipino Director Brillante Mendoza, Alongside Gita Saedi Kiely, Udaya Prasanna Vithanage and Rintu Thomas.

The Awards Jury will consist of socially responsible filmmakers, thought leaders and industry professionals, presided over by director and producer, Brillante Mendoza as Head of the Jury – the first Filipino to receive the ‘Best Director’ award at Cannes FIlm Festival for his film Kinatay in 2009 and the only Filipino to receive France's "Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres" (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). His films have also competed and won at Venice and Berlin Film Festivals, with his credits including Mindanao (2019), Ma Rosa (2016), Trap (2015), Thy Womb (2012) and Lola (2009). He is a strong supporter of young Filipino filmmakers and an advocate of film literacy in the Philippines, and has also established a film foundation, founded a film festival and conducted filmmaking workshops across the country.

The Awards are one of the three strands of Alternativa’s new film initiative, which is dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers from less developed screen industries, with Central Asia taking center stage in 2023 for its maiden edition.