MANILA, Philippines — Not quite detaching itself from the commercial viability format of previous editions, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee announced Friday the eight official entries to the forthcoming Christmas movie festival in December.
In a press conference at a Quezon City restaurant, Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority, which oversees the annual film fiesta, named the following as this year’s contenders.
They are, in alphabetical order:
- Enteng ng Ina Mo (ABS-CBN Film Productions, M-Zet TV Productions,
APT Productions, and Octo Arts)
- Hototay (Regal Entertainment, SMDC)
- Mr. Wong (RP Studios)
- My House Husband (Octo Arts Films)
- Panday 2 (Imus Productions, GMA Network)
- Segunda Mano (MJM Productions)
- Shake, Rattle, and Roll (Regal Entertainment)
- Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Studio 5)
Tolentino said the entries were chosen based on the following criteria: story, creativity, writing excellence, innovativeness, thematic values and global appeal, 40 per cent; commercial viability, 50 percent; Filipino cultural and/or historical value, 10 percent.
The 37th edition of the MMFF, a two-week festival commencing on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, promises a star-studded line-up of actors and actresses topbilling Tagalog films spanning various genres: romantic comedy, horror, action-fantasy, action-adventure, drama, comedy-fantasy.
Starring in competing entries are the likes of Vic Sotto and Ai Ai de las Alas, Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Robin Padilla, Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes, Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo, Heart Evangelista, Carla Abellana, Eugene Domingo, Dennis Trillo, among others.
The finalists were chosen from among entries submitted in script form to the 14-member MMFF screening committee, composed of experts representing various disciplines in the movie industry. The committee was chaired by Ma. Cristina Velasco, assistant general manager for planning at the MMDA.
Tolentino said that with the new line-up of film entries, the MMFF is targeting to meet gross sales of P600 millions this year. In 2010, the festival made P540 million.
The MMDA chair also announced that the MMFF has so far given away P9.325 million to its various beneficiaries, among them the Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund) and the Optical Media Board, among others.
