# Mindanao (film)

Mindanao is a 2019 Philippine war drama film directed by Brillante Mendoza starring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon. It was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

## Cast

* Judy Ann Santos as Saima Datupalo; a Muslim mother who cares for her daughter afflicted with cancer. This is Santos' first film with director Brillante Mendoza and her first Metro Manila Film Festival film since 2012 where she starred in Si Agimat, si Enteng at si Ako with Bong Revilla and Vic Sotto. Among the challenges Santos dealt with in portraying her role is the fact that she had to often carry a 7-year-old child. She also had to take into account cultural sensitivities to be able to portray a Muslim character in a respectful manner. Santos accepted the role after she was approached by Mendoza despite having no script yet for the film at the time the offer was made.
* Allen Dizon as Malang Datupalo; A combat medic in the Philippine Army deployed to fight rebel forces in Mindanao and the husband of Saima. Dizon's character is characterized as a Maguindanaoan Muslim man by director Mendoza to show that religion and personal belief is irrelevant to one's "love for country".
* Yuna Tangog as Aisa Datupalo; the 6-year-old child actress portrays Aisa, the cancer-stricken daughter of Malang and Saima Datupalo being cared for in the House of Hope, a temporary shelter for children affected by cancer in Davao City, by her mother.

## Synopsis

Saima (Judy Ann Santos) cares for her cancer-stricken daughter Aisa (Yuna Tangog) while she awaits the return of her husband Malang (Allen Dizon), who serves as a combat medic deployed in the southern Philippines. Their struggle is juxtaposed with the folklore of Rajah Indara Patra and Rajah Sulayman, the sons of Sultan Nabi, who fight to stop a dragon devastating Lanao.

## Production

Mindanao was produced under Center Stage Production and was directed by Brillante Mendoza. It was produced by Mendoza and Carlo Valenzona. Diego Marx Dobles was responsible for the editing, Odyssey Flores for the cinematography while Teresa Barrozo provided direction for the film's music. Mendoza himself also was behind the film's production design.
Prior to making the film director Brillante Mendoza researched about Mindanao. Since the film involved the Maguindanaon folklore of Rajah Indara Patra and Rajah Sulayman the film was initially known under the working title of Maguindanao but the title of the film was changed to Mindanao since the film's theme was deemed by Mendoza to be "bigger than Maguindanao". However he conceded that the issues affecting Mindanao are complex and the film is unable to fully present these issues to the audience.

## Marketing

Prior to the film's Busan release a music video featuring the film's theme song "Itadyak" by Maan Chua was released. It featured colorful dances and select scenic locations from the film. Solar Pictures released the theatrical release poster for Mindanao in the Philippines on November 16, 2019.

## Release

Mindanao was first released outside the Philippines at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2019, as part of the Icons category. It was also exhibited at the Tokyo on October 30, 2019. The film was also screened in film festivals in Egypt, Estonia, India, and Taiwan. The film premiered in Philippine cinemas on December 25, 2019, as an entry of the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival. Due to its critical success in the film festival's awarding night, the film organizers decided to sponsor the film's screening in future film festivals.

## Reception
### Accolades

List of accolades :
| Year | Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
| 2019 | 41st Cairo International Film Festival | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2019 | 41st Cairo International Film Festival | Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution | Brillante Mendoza (Director) | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Picture | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Actor | Allen Dizon | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Honee Alipio | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Odyssey Flores | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Production Design | Brillante Mendoza | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Editing | Diego Marx Robles | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Visual Effects | Team App | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Sound | Hiroyuki Ishizaka | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Musical Score | Teresa Barrozo | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Original Theme Song | Itadyak by Maan Chua | Nominated | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Child Performer | Yuna Tangog | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Gender Sensitivity Award | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2019 | 45th Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Float | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2020 | 18th Gawad Tanglaw | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2020 | 18th Gawad Tanglaw | Best Actor | Allen Dizon | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Picture | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Actor | Allen Dizon | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Supporting Actress | Yuna Tangog | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Story | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Screenplay | Honee Alipio | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Cinematography | Odyssey Flores | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Production Design | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Editing | Diego Marx Robles | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Sound | Hiroyuki Ishizaka | Won | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | Best Musical Score | Teresa Barrozo | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 22nd Gawad Pasado | PinanakaPASADOng Pelikula sa Paggamit ng Wika | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Picture | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Yuna Tangog | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ketchup Eusebio | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Screenplay | Honee Alipio | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Cinematography | Odyssey Flores | Won | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Production Design | Brillante Mendoza | Nominated | |
| 2020 | 38th FAP Luna Awards | Best Musical Score | Teresa Barrozo | Won | |
| 2020 | 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards | Best Heritage Film | Mindanao | Won | |
| 2020 | 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards | Best Actor | Allen Dizon | Won | |
| 2020 | 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards | Best Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | |
| 2020 | 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards | Best Director | Brillante Mendoza | Won | |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film | Mindanao | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Director | Brillante Mendoza | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Actress | Judy Ann Santos | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Actor | Allen Dizon | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Supporting Actress | Yuna Tangog | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Supporting Actor | Ketchup Eusebio | Nominated | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Cinematographer | Odyssey Flores | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Editor | Diego Marx Robles | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Musical Scorer | Teresa Barrozo | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Production Designer | Brillante Mendoza | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Screenwriter | Honee Alipio | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Sound Engineer | Hiroyuki Ishizaka | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Soundtrack | Itadyak - Maan Chua | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Story | Brillante Mendoza | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Best Film Visual Designer | Team App | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | International Excellence Awardee | Judy Ann Santos | Won | } |
| 2020 | 14th Gawad Genio Awards | Outstanding Genio Awardee | Center Stage Productions | Won | } |