Such was the advance international buzz of the film that it was invited to compete at the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival, being the 3rd overall entry from the Philippines (following the films of director Lino Brocka, "Jaguar" and "Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim"). Its premiere at the festival was marked by the walking out of several veteran film critics who protested Mendoza's version of "misery porn."