Jacyln Jose made news all around the world when she became the first Southeast Asian to win the Best Actress at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Jose won for her role in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa, and she impressed actress Kirsten Dunst, a jury member.
According to Jose, the star was moved by Jose’s acceptance speech to tears. Dunst said that it was beautiful, as well as the moment when Jose grabbed Eigenmann’s hand on stage. Jose added that Dunst became teary-eyed during their conversation.
Jose said in her speech, “I’m at a loss for words! I am so surprised and moved. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the jury members. I thank Brillante Mendoza, whose instructions I simply followed. He’s a brilliant director. I am so happy you liked the film. I’d like to salute the Philippine people.”
Ma’ Rosa tells the story of husband and wife Nestor and Rosa who use a sari-sari store as a cover-up for a drug business. It stars Jose, Eigenmann, Julio Diaz, Maria Isabel Lopez, Felix Roco, and Jomari Angeles.
Jose beat renowned actresses Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Isabelle Hupert and Marion Cotillard.
Mendoza is an award-winning director whose films Serbis, Kinatay, and Taklub were screened in various editions of the Cannes. Serbis and Kinatay were nominated for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest distinction. Kinatay didn’t win the Palme d’Or, but it won the Best Director Award for Mendoza.
Besides the Cannes, Mendoza’ work was nominated in the past for the Golden Lion in the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Bear in the Berlin Film Festival.
