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At the rate weâve been getting text messages that Brillante "Dante" Mendoza won this or that award in an international film festival, heâs probably the Filipi no director with the most number of wins in these events held all over the worl d. Is anybody making a tally? We have become almost blasé to hear that Dante has won in yet another film fes t. The prolific filmmakerâs latest triumph is at the 6th Vladivostok Internatio nal Film Festival of Asian Pacific Countries where he won the Best Director awa rd while his lead, Gina Pareño, earned the Best Actress honors for "Serbis." D anteâs victories are raising awareness in the international film community of t he Philippinesâ vibrant indie movie scene. (Photo: One more addition to his growing trophy collection: a triumphant Brilla nte "Dante" Mendoza (center) in Vladivostok, Russia.)

THIS is Jesse Bradford, the Hollywood actor recently picked to star in the US remake of Yam Laranas' acclaimed thriller in Tagalog, "Sigaw." Jesse, whom we interviewed last October when he played one of the leads in Clin t Eastwoodâs World War II drama, "Flags of Our Fathers," tackles the role playe d by Richard Gutierrez in the original movie. The photo was taken during our pr ess con with him at the Warner Bros. lot. Our congratulations to Yam -- he gets to direct the American version, "The Echo ," as well. It's a tribute to the filmmaking talent he displayed in "Sigaw." An American director could have been chosen to helm "The Echo." For Hollywood to give him the job, thatâs a significant achievement. Yam, way to go! For a change, it is nice to hear that Hollywood is doing a rema ke of a Filipino film and not the other way around. Let's hope the American fil m industry taps more Pinoy stories and talents.