WE’VE stored the parka, mittens, thermal underwear and snow boots in the closet. But this moment remains fresh in our mind. Following the second screening of Filipina filmmaker Joanna Vasquez Arong’s (in pink) “Neo-Lounge,” which was in Slamdance 2008’s Documentary Feature Competition, she was toasted by new and old friends.

Among those celebrating Joanna’s achievement in Park City, Utah are Pinoy filmmakers Ramona Diaz (left, in green) and Marty Syjuco (beside Joanna).

Cheers indeed to the Philippines’ rising crop of indie filmmakers! They’re making waves in the international film scene. Best of all, they are invigorating the moribund Filipino movie industry.

Editor’s note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

PARK CITY, Utah–Robert Redford welcomed the opening night crowd of Sundance 2008 last night (Thursday) with an extemporaneous speech.

The theme of change was on the mind of Sundance Institute’s founder, who took over this festival in the late 1980s. He told the crowd before Colin Farrell’s dark comedy, “In Bruges,” began: “Artists are really agents of change. They are the first responders. They document change as it is occurring in the world around us.”

Editor’s note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales

FILIPINO thespians Marife Necesito and Martin de los Santos join Gael Garcia Bernal, the star of such acclaimed films as “Babel,” “The Motorcycle Diaries,” “Y tu Mama Tambien” and “Amores Perros,” and Michelle Williams (”Brokeback Mountain”) in a movie being filmed in Subic and Morong.

In the film titled “Mammoth,” Marife plays the nanny of Gael and Michelle’s child. The story involves Gael’s character, a successful New Yorker, who decides to radically alter his life while he is on vacation in Asia with his family. Marife Necesito’s credits include a memorable performance in Lav Diaz’s “Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino.” Martin de los Santos was in the movie, “Mga Mata ni Anghelita.”

Other Pinoys working in the Philippine segment of the shoot are Oli Laperal Jr., line producer; Awel Galang, production manager; Julie Ysla, casting manager; Criz Soriano and Elmer Santos, location managers; and Tess Marin, production coordinator.

“Mammoth” is the first English language film of Swedish director Lukas Moodysson, who has several noteworthy films to his credit. Gael, who started acting in his native Mexico, has become an internationally recognized actor. Michelle, who split with her “Brokeback Mountain” co-star Heath Ledger this year, earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in the film.

MY recent two-part column about our interview with director Francis Coppola elicited a reaction from a reader, specifically on this quote from the filmmaker about making “Apocalypse Now,” his landmark Vietnam War film in the Philippines:

“I’m thrilled that we did all that in the Philippines. I’m grateful that we didn’t lose lives because, as I think back, what we did was far more dangerous: We were up in helicopters flying around. The Filipino people were generous and worked so hard for us! We did that dangerous production with honor, so I’m grateful. Salamat po!”

Rene Ontal, whose e-mail address is rgontal04@yahoo.com and who describes himself as a “writer and filmmaker” with a day job as a “media specialist for the City University of New York,” wrote: “Mr. Coppola evidently purged the deaths of several Ifugao extras from his consciousness. Playing Montagnard tribesmen, they were crushed to death when the Kurtz temple set collapsed during a typhoon. They went unlamented as well in ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse,’ his wife Eleanor’s documentary on the making of the film.

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AFTER many years of visiting the set of Hollywood movies, it was refreshing to see a Filipino director, Yam Laranas, at the helm, so to speak, of “The Echo,” now in production in Toronto.

It was also a novel experience for us to hear the cast and crew raving about the Philippines’ Chocnut and dried mangoes. Credit goes to Iza Calzado, who reprises her role in the American remake of Regal Entertainment’s horror thriller, “Sigaw.” She brought plenty of Chocnut and dried mangoes to share on the set.

Yam also did a good deed — he fought for Iza to get the role. Loud cheers of “Mabuhay!” to these two!

Editor’s note: Photo by Ruben V. Nepales