(CNN) -- Feted by Sean Penn and applauded by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes, Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza appears to finally live up to his name. Facing the press in Cannes, Brillante Mendoza went on to pick up the best director prize. Despite only directing for four years, Mendoza won the award for best director at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year for "Kinatay", beating off competition from filmmaking royalty including Tarantino himself. After picking up the award, Tarantino wrote to Mendoza congratulating him on his award and saying his film was "bold, daring and... the whole point of making movies in the first place."
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Mendoza won the Best Director award at this year's Cannes film festival
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Filipino filmmaker lauded by Quentin Tarantino for his film "Serbis"
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Mendoza has only been directing for four years; films have proved controversial
"Serbis" was only the third ever film from the Philippines to be shown in Cannes, and while elevating @placeholder to a new level of attention, the man himself hopes it will give the whole country a higher profile.