Manila: The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has announced the first four official entries for this year's festival, which will be showcased in cinemas across the nation starting December 25.
According to Philippines News Agency, the MMFF revealed in a statement on Wednesday that the initial entries were selected based on their scripts, representing a broad range of genres and showcasing the "creativity and versatility of Filipino filmmakers." The chosen films include 'Call Me Mother,' directed by Jun Robles and featuring Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre; 'Rekonek,' directed by Jade Castro with a cast comprising Carmina Villaroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson, and Zoren Legaspi.
Other films in the lineup are 'Manila's Finest,' directed by Rae Red and starring Piolo Pascual, and 'Shake, Rattle, and Roll Evil Origins,' directed by Shugo Praico, Joey De Guzman, and Ian Lore±os, featuring actors such as Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, and Loisa Andallo, among others.
The announcement took place during the grand launch of the 51st MMFF at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati City on Tuesday. MMFF and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) concurrent Chair Romando 'Don' Artes expressed optimism, stating that the success of last year's golden jubilee has set high expectations for this year's festival. The MMFF Executive Committee is eager to maintain this momentum.
Artes promised an exhilarating experience for both filmmakers and audiences for the 51st MMFF edition. He encouraged everyone to prepare for an "exciting cinematic journey in December" with the unveiling of the first batch of entries.
The MMFF received a total of 23 submissions for the current year's festival. Artes noted the overwhelming response to the call for entries and emphasized the MMFF's commitment to offering a platform for local filmmakers to engage with audiences. He described MMFF 51 as a "new era for Philippine cinema."
The MMFF's selection committee, led by Boots Anson-Rodrigo, is tasked with evaluating each submission based on artistic excellence, commercial appeal, Filipino cultural sensibility, and global appeal. The initial batch will be part of the official eight entries for the 51st MMFF, with the remaining four to be selected from completed film submissions, with the deadline set for September 15.
Proceeds from the MMFF support various beneficiaries within the film industry, including the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
