Award-winning international filmmaker Direk Nijel de Mesa, who changed his name from Njel to Nigel, made the Philippines proud yet again by winning back-to-back awards for Best Director and Best Cinematographer at the just concluded Ima Wa Ima Asian International Film Festival in Osaka, Japan. 

The Global Maharlika organized the event in Kansai, the Philippine Community Coordinating Council, the Korean Residents Union in Japan, and the Kyomigaru Creative Collective Group. 

The awarding ceremony last Dec. 1 at the massive Sumiyoshi Main Hall featured entertainment special awards for Asian artists working in film, television, and even in new media.

Jane de Leon won Best Actress in the suspense-thriller-horror full-length category, and Kim Ji Soo of South Korea won the Outstanding International Actor in a cross-cultural series award for his portrayal in GMA's "Abot Kamay ang Pangarap." 

Direk Nijel’s Coronaphobia also won Best Picture in the suspense-thriller-horror category. 

Daiana Menezes, one of the stars of “Coronaphobia," and Jan Christine Reyes of NDMstudios joined Direk Nijel in claiming the award. “This is unexpected! We just had a blast during the shoot—almost like hanging out. It was a labor of friendship and love. We are so happy that you like what we accomplished with limited resources,” said Daiana.

The film is about four foreigners who were stuck in the Philippines during the pandemic - who decided to steal from an adjacent building and a crazy psycho janitor with Coronaphobia.

Hopefully, because of this remarkable win, Filipino audiences will finally be given a treat and see this award-winning suspenseful film in the cinemas in 2025.