Judy Ann Santos to lead Brillante Mendoza’s international drama 'Aid'

Award-winning Filipino actress Judy Ann Santos will star in “Aid,” a new political drama directed by acclaimed filmmaker Brillante Mendoza.

First reported by Variety, the project brings together Filipino and European talent, with the “Espantaho” star joined by French actresses Jeanne Balibar and Stacy Martin. The film is co-produced by companies from the Philippines, France, and the Netherlands.  It was also officially introduced to international partners at the Cannes Film Market during the Cannes Film Festival.

Before “Aid,” Santos and Mendoza worked together on the 2019 film “Mindanao.” The film earned Santos multiple acting honors, including Best Actress awards at the Cairo International Film Festival and the Metro Manila Film Festival, where Mendoza also received major recognition. 

Mendoza previously made history as the first Filipino filmmaker to win Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 for "Kinatay" (Butchered).

In the film, Santos plays Ruby Dela Cruz, the head of a grassroots NGO supporting Indigenous Aeta communities in the Philippines. The story follows her work protecting Aeta children, which gradually draws her into the wider and more complex world of international humanitarian aid. 

Stacy Martin plays Angelique Dumont, an aid executive overseeing operations across Southeast Asia. Balibar also plays a key role in the film, though her role has not been disclosed.

The film will be shot on location in an Aeta village in Pampanga, with production expected to begin in October.