FILIPINO families are encouraged to support the official entries for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which are now showing in Philippine cinemas.
This year’s MMFF features 10 Filipino films, topbilled by some of the brightest and rising stars in the show business industry.
In a video message on Thursday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. greeted Filipinos with a happy Christmas, highlighting that this special occasion is a time to reunite and bond with loved ones.
He then encouraged the public to support local talents by inviting their family and friends to cinemas to watch the MMFF entries, which highlight the stories of the Filipino people.
“Ang mga magagandang pelikulang kalahok ngayon ng Golden Year ng MMFF ay siguradong magbibigay ng gintong saya at mag-iiwan ng mga ginintuang aral,” Marcos said.
“Tangkilikin po natin ang kwentong Pilipino. Suportahan po natin ang Metro Manila Film Festival 2024,” he added.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) also emphasized how support from Filipino moviegoers would help promote Filipino artistry and creativity.
“By supporting this year’s film fest, we do not only enjoy quality entertainment but also help sustain and grow our film industry,” MTRCB chair Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio said.
The MMFF has been part of Filipinos’ Christmas tradition. On Thursday, families and groups of friends were spotted spending Christmas with their loved ones in cinemas to watch the MMFF films.
10 MMFF entries
The 50th MMFF screens 10 Filipino movies, up from the usual eight. These films have different genres, from heartfelt dramas to romance, comedy, action, thriller, and horror.
Here are the competing entries:
- “My Future You” – starring popular Gen Z love team Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin
- “Uninvited” – starring Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, Aga Muhlach, and Mylene Dizon
- “Topakk” – starring Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Kokoy de Santos, and Sid Lucero
- “Hold Me Close” – starring Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino
- “Espantaho” – starring Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino
- “And the Breadwinner is…” – starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo
- “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital” – starring Enrique Gil and Jane de Leon
- “Green Bones” – starring Dennis Trillo and Kylie Padilla
- “Isang Himala” – starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante
- “The Kingdom” – starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual
The MMFF 2024 will run from December 25, 2024 to January 7, 2025, with no foreign movies available in Philippine theaters.
The Gawad ng Parangal will be held on December 27, where Filipino talents will be recognized for their exceptional works for the MMFF 2024.
Equal cinema distribution
While local films were given the spotlight during the 50th MMFF, not all the 10 entries were equally distributed in cinemas.
On Facebook, musical director Vincent DeJesus called for support for “Isang Himala,” which is less accessible in Philippine theaters than other MMFF 2024 entries.
“Hi everyone, ‘Isang Himala’ has only 31 cinemas so far. We’ve been told it’s probably because of the genre and our lack of ‘box office stars,'” he wrote.
“Hope you can give our film a chance, and if you like it, your support will go a long way in convincing more cinemas to screen us,” he continued.
MMFF 2023 Best Actor Cedrick Juan sympathized with DeJesus, stressing that “GomBurZa” experienced limited availability in cinemas during the 49th MMFF. In the film, Juan portrayed Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the three martyr priests who were executed during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines.
“Ramdam ko ito kuya [Vincent], ganitong-ganito sitwasyon ng ‘GomBurZa’ last year. Laban lang! Naniniwala ako na marami ang gugustuhin mapanood ito!” Juan commented.
Before this, film critic Philbert Dy questioned why the 10 MMFF films were not given equal distribution in cinemas, stressing that “Green Bones” would only be screened in 40 cinemas nationwide.
Based on DeJesus’ December 23 post, “Isang Himala” is now available in 32 cinemas in the country.
