Muling binigyang-linaw ng award-winning filmmaker, Brillante Mendoza, ang napabalitang diumano'y pagkapasok bilang entry ng kanyang latest indie film, tentatively titled Prey, sa Venice International Film Festival, sa Italy.

"There's no truth to that.  There's no formal announcement yet," sabi ni Direk Brillante sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), kamakailan.

Nakausap ng PEP ang internationally-acclaimed director, ugnay sa nais nitong ipanawagan at hingan ng suporta na bagong advocacy nila ni Ms. Gina Lopez, ng ABS-CBN, na may kinalaman sa mining activities sa Palawan.

Pero hindi maiiwasang mabanggit din ang tungkol sa bagong indie project ni Mendoza na kasalukuyan pa ring nasa post-production.

MERE SPECULATION.  Brillante Mendoza told PEP that what was published in a broadsheet column was mere speculation.

"It's three months before the festival at wala pang nakakakita sa film; there's no finished product yet, so wala pang dapat pinag-uusapan about... [pagiging entry ng Prey] sa Venice," sabi pa rin ni Brillante.

Ang naturang Italy-based festival, na isa sa A-List Film Festivals sa buong mundo, which is on its 68th year, ay nakatakdang ganapin sa mga petsang August 31 hanggang September 10, 2011.

"I still have to discuss with my producer (Didier Costet) on what is the next move, when the film is finished.

"Kasi parang ang hirap magsabi lang na, 'O, ipadala natin sa ano...' puro mga speculations.

"As far as I'm concerned, not until I see the film, that's the only time that I can decide na, 'O, ito, hahabol siguro ito... sa ganito," sabi pa ni Brillante.

Huling napasali ang pelikula ni Brillante Mendoza,  sa Venice Film Festival (Main Competition section) noong 2009. Ito ay ang highly-acclaimed film na Lola, starring veteran actresses Anita Linda and Rustica Carpio.

Early on, may speculations din na nilayon ni Brillante Mendoza at ng kanyang producer na isali ang Prey sa  natapos na Cannes International Film Festival, noong Mayo 15-24, 2011.

Maituturing na ring beterano sa pagsali sa prestihiyosong Cannes International Filmfest si Brillante Mendoza, having fielded three of his films which were successfully chosen, in 2007 (Foster Child), for the Director's Fortnight; and in 2008 (Serbis) and 2009 (Kinatay) as Main Competition entries.  At alam ng lahat na si Brillante Mendoza ang nanalong Cannes Filmfest Best Director, noong 2009, para sa Kinatay.

This time, with Prey, sabi ni Brillante, "Hindi ako nag-attempt because, I know, nu'ng tinanong ko dito, hindi nila kayang tapusin [ang post-production].

"Because ang [new] film ko is more than three hours ang running time.  It's a three-and-a-half-hour film," ang sabi ni Direk Brillante.