More honors for Maximo

Pinoy independent filmmaker Auraeus Solito's "Ang Pagdadalaga ni (The Blossoming of) Maximo Oliveros" continues its winning streak in the international cinema scene. The film won on Friday the Berlin International Film Festival's top Teddy Queer (Best Feature) Film award. This is another good news for Pinoy independent filmmakers who have certainly made their presence felt both here and abroad.

While "Maximo" was entered in the Kinderfilmfest (children's) category, it was also eligible to compete for the award that recognizes excellence in gay and lesbian films. With his victory, Solito joins a distinguished group of filmmakers that includes Pedro Almodovar, who had received a Teddy. His film about a gay 12-year-old (Nathan Lopez) who falls in love with a cop (JR Valentin) beat an elite group of 30 films, including "Capote" from the United States. "Capote" is one of the films vying for the Oscars. The film produced by ufo Pictures of Raymond Lee and written by Michiko Yamamoto, also won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival last Feb. 3, sharing the award with a Japanese film, "The Lost Hum."

The film also participated in the Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema Competition (Dramatic Category) held last month, being the first movie from the Philippines to join the festival.

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Cheryl Bautista Burke, a Fil-Am based in New York City, joins the rest of the grand finalists in Dancing with the Stars, seen live on Thursdays over ABC 7 on cable TV. Cheryl and her celebrity partner, singer Drew Lachey, of the band 98 Degrees and former brother-in law of Hollywood celebrity Jessica Simpson, bested other dance professionals for the grand final event. From out of 10 teams, four will battle it out during the grand finals on February 23. Cheryl and Drew scored high in tango, samba, pasa doble, quickstep and chacha.

Cheryl grew up in San Francisco, California. She comes from a family that loves to dance. Her mother, Sherri Bautista Burke, a native of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, has been featured in Good Morning America as one of the most successful Asian entrepreneurs.

Filipinos in America and around the world are rallying behind their "kababayan" Cheryl who will be competing in Dancing with the Stars grand finals on February 23. To cast your vote for Cheryl and Drew dial 1-800-VOTE-405.

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Erik Santos, chosen I-FM Best Male Singer of the Year, touches base with his fans and friends through a mall tour. One of the stops is SM Iloilo on March 3. He will be singing songs from his latest album, "Loving You" under Star Records. The album contains an Ogie Alcasid composition titled "Bakit Iniibig Ka," a duet with Regine Velasquez and a Martin Nievera song titled "Mystery." Erik also co-wrote a song with Arnold Reyes titled "Kung Maalala Mo," plus a Vehnee Saturno original titled "Goodbye's Not Forever," among others.

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Dancer cum comedian Vhong Navarro recently renewed his contract with Star Cinema. He signed up a new three-picture deal and his first project is a remake of a movie of Tony Ferrer, who became famous for his portrayal of a detective code named X-44. The said movie will be directed by Joyce Bernal, who also handled Vhong's last assignment under Star Cinema titled "D'Anothers," one of the biggest earners of Star Cinema last year.

To be paired with Vhong in this Agent X-44 project is Toni Gonzaga who was also the comedian's leading lady in his last movie, as well as his co-host in the wacky show, "Wazzup, Wazzup" aired on Studio 23.

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Regal Films and GMA Films are happy with the box-office result of "I Will Always Love You" featuring Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. After earning more than P8 million on its opening day and raking in more than P15 million on Feb. 12, the movie is nearing the P80 million mark barely two weeks after its opening day. The producers, Mother Lily Monterverde and Annette Gozon-Abrogar of GMA Films, are grinning ear to ear with the cash register ringing merrily at the box-office.

The producers are now readying the next project of Richard and Angel, who are both elated with the success of their team-up. But on TV, the tandem will be seen on separate programs. Richard is doing "Captain Barbell" while Angel is taking horseback riding lessons under Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski for her role in the new fantaserye, "Majika."