PHILIPPINES – Brillante Mendoza’s feature film Lola (Grandmother) continues its winning streak as it makes the rounds of international festivals. Its Director of Photography Odyssey Flores won Best Cinematography at the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa, beating 19 other entries in the main competition. This comes only weeks after Lola was named Best Film at the Asian Film Festival in Rome, Italy.
Flores earned the following citation from the jury: “Masterly shot under difficult conditions, the cinematography in Lola uses a captivating documentary style that frees the camera to assume unusual positions, allowing it to open and explore the spaces of everyday life of the characters. The camera-work places the viewer in the middle of the film’s world and makes it a physical experience for the audience."
Starting as a DOP for movies in 2002, Flores has worked in films such as Laman and Magnifico, often partnering with Mendoza in award-winning films including Serbis and Kinatay. Flores also serves as a cinematographer for music videos and TV commercials.
