At the rate we’ve been getting text messages that Brillante “Dante” Mendoza won this or that award in an international film festival, he’s probably the Filipino director with the most number of wins in these events held all over the world. Is anybody making a tally?

We have become almost blasé to hear that Dante has won in yet another film fest. The prolific filmmaker’s latest triumph is at the 6th Vladivostok International Film Festival of Asian Pacific Countries where he won the Best Director award while his lead, Gina Pareño, earned the Best Actress honors for “Serbis.” Dante’s victories are raising awareness in the international film community of the Philippines’ vibrant indie movie scene.

(Photo: One more addition to his growing trophy collection: a triumphant Brillante “Dante” Mendoza (center) in Vladivostok, Russia.)