Jess Mendoza

Acting

Jess Mendoza

Acting credits

Quezon poster
8.5

A historical drama focusing on Manuel L. Quezon years after the Philippine Revolution during the American occupation. When his fight for independence from the United States is put to the test, Quezon finds himself playing the brutal game of politics to outmaneuver his rivals — including Leonard Wood, Sergio Osmeña, and Joven Hernando. In Quezon’s relentless quest for power, he ultimately faces off with Emilio Aguinaldo in the 1935 presidential elections, using charm and favoritism as both weapons and currency, in a campaign that ultimately changes the face of Philippine politics and history.

Quezon

2025

Manila's Finest poster
NR

Set during the first quarter storm in the 1970s, policemen Homer, Conrad, and Billy are consumed by the murder case of troublemaking teenagers in the slums.

Manila's Finest

2025

To Set Upright poster
NR

Paring Bert, a priest, and his parishioner, Santos, a taxi driver, embark on a gritty journey to reconcile their moral conflicts while they elude an assassination attempt.

To Set Upright

2026

My Amanda poster
5.7

Two unusually close friends share every aspect of their lives together. As their lives evolve, their bond remains the only constant.

My Amanda

2021

Dark Is the Night poster
NR

Filipino director Adolfo Alix Jr. returns to the Festival with this timely story of a couple caught up in Rodrigo Duterte’s violent war on drugs when their son goes missing.

Dark Is the Night

2018

No artwork available
NR

A woman returns to the village of Kagbunga in the Bikol region carrying the ashes of her only son via the old train that circles her universe like the tandayag, the primordial serpent. In a filial act of mourning, she will reckon and reconcile the thin line that exists between tragedy and transcendence and prove and that even the most broken life can be restored to its moments.

The Sorrows of Sita

2016

Some Nights I Feel Like Walking poster
5.7

In the seedy underbelly of Manila, teenage runaway Zion links up with a group of queer street hustlers who lead him on a heated journey of self-discovery in the tempting and dangerous nocturnal city.

Some Nights I Feel Like Walking

2025

Cargo poster
2.0

A woman relieves the heavy burden from her past when she finally exacts revenge on the man who murdered her entire family.

Cargo

2022

The Woman and the Gun poster
6.0

A department store saleslady has had enough of being an underdog. One night, she discovers a peculiar-looking gun right on her doorstep. Her life drastically changes as she discovers how much power owning a gun can give her.

The Woman and the Gun

2019

Love or Money poster
2.0

After being swept off her feet by a persistent Leon, ambitious Angel must choose between true love and her dreams of a luxurious life.

Love or Money

2021

Warla poster
NR

A group of transgender women belonging to a gang kidnaps foreign men to fund their gender-affirming surgeries, not knowing that their quest to free themselves to be who they are may end with them in prison.

Warla

2025

Barber's Tales poster
7.8

In the 1970s, a widow in a remote village takes over her husband’s barber shop. She becomes the laughing stock of the male-dominated community and in the process discovers freedom and liberation.

Barber's Tales

2013

Neomanila poster
5.4

Toto, a teenage orphan, is recruited by a notorious death squad. Irma, the groups leader, soon becomes a maternal figure to the young boy. As the two form a familial bond, their loyalties will be put to the test when one of their targets turns out to be a familiar face.

Neomanila

2017

Baconaua poster
8.2

After a turbulent squall in the night, villagers wake up to the astonishing sight of the sea that has turned red.

Baconaua

2017

Watch List poster
7.3

Set against the drug wars in the Philippines, Maria's husband is murdered in mysterious circumstances and is left to fend for her three children in a police state. As she delves into Manila’s dark underworld of cops, criminals, and drugs to find answers, she realizes the truth is never black and white, and that she must explore her own darkness to keep her family safe.

Watch List

2019

Mater Dolorosa poster
6.5

A woman runs her criminal syndicate all the while taking care of her family.

Mater Dolorosa

2012

Violator poster
4.0

Manila is besieged by the worst typhoon to hit the country. Talk of the world coming to an end hangs in the air. And five men find themselves stranded inside a police station with a prisoner who may o may not be the devil. It's going to be a long night.

Violator

2014

Purgatoryo poster
4.3

A story of Ilyong, recently-dead man killed by the police, after he was caught stealing. This is the beginning of his story, his death. Soon after, he was brought into a sleazy funeral home, run by Violet, a greedy homosexual who has learned to survive by renting out the dead bodies in his funeral home to Simon. Along for the ride is Jojo, a police officer who is under the payroll of Simon and who supplies the dead bodies for Violet to take care of and make money from. Violet has two workers, On-on and Dyograd.

Purgatoryo

2016

Empire Hotel poster
3.7

The Empire Hotel is a 30-year-old landmark in Macau's old quarter, inhabited by characters with their own stories and struggles. It is also Maria's home. One day, the burden of keeping lives together and the hotel standing falls on her shoulders. A young man who left Macau two decades ago returns, intent on revenge and reclaiming his mother's fortune – half the hotel. Inside the casino, Maria sings Fado and exotic dancers perform. It is against this illusory backdrop that the man lays eyes on Maria for the first time; they’re both mesmerized. The film cuts back and forth between film noir-style scenes of Macau’s past and present.

Empire Hotel

2018

Talahib poster
NR

Police officers Bong and Roman investigate paranormal killings in ominous talahib grass fields, unraveling a chilling mystery.

Talahib

2024

Bato poster
6.2

The dramatization of the life of General Ronald dela Rosa.

Bato

2019

Tres poster
NR

It is a trilogy which follows the story of three individuals must go through desperate measures to hide their secrets.

Tres

2018

Smaller and Smaller Circles poster
6.0

A serial killer in Payatas leaves the bodies of young boys in the dump as two Jesuit priests try to solve the murders.

Smaller and Smaller Circles

2017

No artwork available
NR

Two years after she was raped, a woman agrees to meet with her rapist in the beautiful ruins of Intramuros. As they have the same blood type, her rapist asks her to donate blood for his operation claiming this will lengthen his life and will give him ample time to seek redemption. The woman refuses to do so as she rediscovers she is still a victim of unrequited love towards her rapist. Told in two separate perspectives, the story revolves around how the woman and man pick the pieces of their broken lives after the rape, meeting every so often at places that remind them of their past. They are confronted by the fact that they are both victims of each other: THE WOMAN struggles with loving no one but the man; THE MAN, struggles with his guilt knowing he can't love the woman the way she wants him to.

The Natural Phenomenon Of Madness

2011