The Best Director Prize was awarded to  Brillante Mendoza for Kinatay and presented by Terry Gilliam:

"First of all I would like to thank the selection committee, who are responsible for bringing my films here for the past three years. And now with an award for Best Director, I would like to thank the Jury. And of course I’d like to thank my producer; thank you for the trust and faith in my films. I’d like to thank also a very committed staff and crew. I’d like to share this award with my daughter, Angelica, who has always been my number one critic and to an actor I really respect, Coco Martin. Thank you all for embracing my kind of cinema."

 

During the follow-up press conference, Brillante Mendoza talked about divided audience opinion:
"After Serbis, last year, opinion was also divided. Some critics liked it, and some didn't like it. So I'm kind of prepared, with this kind of film, that I've shown again in Cannes. Did I expect [an award]? Of course. I always hope for the best."