Meryl Soriano won Best Actress for the film, “Donor.”

Following in the footsteps of Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda are other local artists who have made strides in the international scene recently.

Indie favorite

Meryl Soriano, the daughter of controversial TV host Willie Revillame, earned the judges' nods at the 37th Brussels International Independent Film Festival (BIIFF), where she won Best Actress for the film, “Donor,” which, in turn, clinched Best Picture.

Soriano is set to leave for the 10th Marrakech International Film Festival on Dec. 3. This early, many predict a repeat of her Brussels feat.

Mark Meily's "Donor" tackles the tale of a woman named Lizette (played by Soriano) who sells pirated DVDs to earn a living. Aiming to work abroad, she decides to sell her kidney to a wealthy Arabian patient for P100,000.

Hollywood Calling

Off to Hollywood soon is Miss International Krista Kliener. She will fly to Los Angeles early 2011 for possible projects.

“I have some meetings. [I will also try to] show materials for a music [project],” said she via “24 Oras.”

Kleiner hopes to land acting roles there having previously auditioned for some.

“I auditioned pero na-postpone lang ang production so I'm hoping that when I get over there I would know when it would start,” she said.

Kliener is planning to divide time between the Philippines and the US.

“Hindi ko kayang iwanan si [Singer] Jay-R. Mahal na mahal ko siya.”

Second chance

In Hongkong, singer Angeli Flores was picked by FarWest Entertainment to become part of girl group Blush.

This is Flores’ second stab at fame. In 2005, she released an album under Viva Records dubbed, “Sabi Mo Lang Pala.” She last made noise as part of “Philippine Idol” a few years ago.

As part of Blush, touted as the “first pan-Asian group,” Flores will be performing alongside Victoria Chan (China), Alisha Budhrani (India), Natsuko Danjo (Japan) and Ji-Hae Lee (Korea).

Lea Salonga, who was among the judges in the search dubbed "Project Lotus,” deem the newly-formed group “exciting” and the possibilities for it "endless."

“I don’t believe that a Pan-Asian girl group has ever been formed. (The Wonder Girls and 2NE1 are both Korean.) There is such diversity in the group that was formed, not only in their features, but also in their personalities,” said she via her column in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“There will be someone and something that their fans can relate to. There’s a glamour gal, a tomboy, a diva. One is classically beautiful, another exotic and mysterious. And they all have great vocal strength.”

The search began a few months ago, with judges and coaches traveling all over Asia searching for the perfect candidates.