Carlos Manga Junior is busy. The Republika Films-repped director has seen his ship - and the ships of other Brazilian directors - come in during the last few years. While it used to be that international clients came to shoot in Brazil with their own directors in tow, these days, he and a few other notables are being flown out of Brazil to helm spots shot elsewhere for international clients. "I've shot in Cuba, LA, Mexico, Portugal, Argentina," says Manga. "I am blessed this way."

Founded three years ago, Rio-based Republika Films has done both Brazilian and international work for the likes of Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi and BBDO, among others. Manga, who was a founder of the production company, shot his first spot in 1985 and has slowly piled up the awards. This year, he won his first Lions at the Cannes Festival: Gold for "Alzheimer", for Children Abused Institute, created by Leo Burnett Lisbon, and Bronze for the AlmapBBDO São Paulo spot "Bird", for Brazilian airline Gol Linhas Aéreas.

While being flown out of Brazil is the experience of a select few, the trend of international clients using Brazilian talent - including directors - is getting more common by the minute. And it's not all about the money. While cost savings are always part of the equation, there is no shortage of directorial talent from Brazil. Manga credits the years of working in less than ideal conditions as a reason for the explosion of high level skills and creativity.

"We are a third world country - we learn by working. There aren't really schools for this. Because we had no money and little equipment, we learned to be creative with our solutions," he says, adding that this also holds true for Brazilian crews. Over these lean years, "some guys developed a special gift. Now we have the equipment and we retain the knowledge - it's all getting better."

Still a ways to go

Despite the increasing fame and reputation of Brazilian directors, the best international boards generally still don't make it to the desks of the production companies in Rio or São Paulo. "The local stuff is bolder," says Greg Jenkins, EP at Margarida Films. "The quality of the boards we receive here is not exceptional." According to Jenkins, when foreign companies come to Brazil, it's to make basic spots that don't need the hottest director. "But they select a hot director who in the end won't even put the spot on his reel." In this way, using Brazilian directing talent gets clients top "US or Euro quality directing at a half-price rate." Jenkins figures it's just a matter of time before the "comfort factor" takes hold and the very best boards start heading to Brazil.

For his part, Manga concurs. He says when international business comes knocking, "they are very surprised by the reel because it is so creative."

Other top Brazilian directors:

Claudio Borrelli, Killers; Sergio Amon, Zero Filmes; Fabio Soares, Conspiração; João Daniel Tikohmiroff, Jodaf; Alvaro Beck, Farofa.