Carlo Canlas Mendoza is a multi-awarded Filipino cinematographer who recently finished his MFA in Cinematography at the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in Los Angeles, California. Mendoza was the recipient of the Rachel Morrison scholarship at AFI. Before coming to AFI, Carlo has photographed more than a dozen feature films since he started his career in 2007, including Jun Robles Lana’s BWAKAW (Philippine entry to the 2012 Academy Awards, in competition at the 2012 New York International Film Festival), MANILA KINGPIN: THE ASIONG (in competition at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival) and ROSARIO (in competition at the 2011 Shanghai International Film Festival). He has received twenty awards for his works from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), Metro Manila Film Festival, FAP Awards (Film Academy of the Philippines), the Young Critics Circle and most recently at the 2018 North Virginia Film and Music Festival. His other notable works are JAY (in competition at the 2008 Venice International Film Festival), BARBER’S TALES (in competition at the 2013 Tokyo International Film Festival), ABOVE THE CLOUDS (premiered at the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival), SHADOW BEHIND THE MOON (in competition at the 2015 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival), BONIFACIO: ANG UNANG PANGULO (Metro Manila Film Festival 2015) and DIE BEAUTIFUL (in competition at the 21st International Film Festival of Kerala.
Mendoza started his training under Filipino Master Cinematographer Lee Briones in 2005. There he learned that “Cinematography isn’t just about skill and technique but also about managing people.” Then in 2007, he was accepted at the Asian Film Academy (AFA) of the Busan International Film Festival and in 2011, he attended the Berlinale Talent Campus. Through AFA, he met his mentor, Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang and had the privilege of training under Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. In 2008 and 2012, Mendoza returned to AFA by invitation to become one of the assistant cinematography instructors.
In November 2014, Carlo Mendoza together with Malaysian Director Tan Mui Chui was invited by the Busan Film Commission to be one of the Instructors at the ASEAN-ROK Film Incubators: FLY 2014 Workshop in Yangon, Myanmar, a filmmaking workshop for aspiring ASEAN filmmakers. Then in June 2015, he was invited by Finas (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) to be one of the mentors at the Malaysian Next New Wave Workshop together with Thai director Additya Assarat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mendoza made history in the Philippine Movie Industry by being elevated to Hall of Fame status by two prestigious award giving bodies in the country: the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). He was also recently named as one of the 100 Luminaries of Philippine Cinema because of his artistic contribution to what Philippine Cinema is right now.
In 2019, Mendoza was given a $60,000 camera and lenses feature film grant from Panavision through Project Involve, Film Independent’s signature mentorship and diversity program for 30 emerging filmmakers in LA wherein he was a part of last year. He is currently back in Los Angeles wherein he is participating in the American Society of Cinematographers’ (ASC) Vision Mentorship Program.
Mendoza started his training under Filipino Master Cinematographer Lee Briones in 2005. There he learned that “Cinematography isn’t just about skill and technique but also about managing people.” Then in 2007, he was accepted at the Asian Film Academy (AFA) of the Busan International Film Festival and in 2011, he attended the Berlinale Talent Campus. Through AFA, he met his mentor, Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang and had the privilege of training under Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. In 2008 and 2012, Mendoza returned to AFA by invitation to become one of the assistant cinematography instructors.
In November 2014, Carlo Mendoza together with Malaysian Director Tan Mui Chui was invited by the Busan Film Commission to be one of the Instructors at the ASEAN-ROK Film Incubators: FLY 2014 Workshop in Yangon, Myanmar, a filmmaking workshop for aspiring ASEAN filmmakers. Then in June 2015, he was invited by Finas (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) to be one of the mentors at the Malaysian Next New Wave Workshop together with Thai director Additya Assarat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mendoza made history in the Philippine Movie Industry by being elevated to Hall of Fame status by two prestigious award giving bodies in the country: the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). He was also recently named as one of the 100 Luminaries of Philippine Cinema because of his artistic contribution to what Philippine Cinema is right now.
In 2019, Mendoza was given a $60,000 camera and lenses feature film grant from Panavision through Project Involve, Film Independent’s signature mentorship and diversity program for 30 emerging filmmakers in LA wherein he was a part of last year. He is currently back in Los Angeles wherein he is participating in the American Society of Cinematographers’ (ASC) Vision Mentorship Program.
photo taken by Minda Ponce