MMFF chair Francis Tolentino’s fearless forecast for this year’s event
Everything is set for the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), with its eight official entries and 16 finalists in the New Wave section.
MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) Chair Francis Tolentino, overall Chair of the MMFF Executive Committee, who launched the event last December 4 at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City, is upbeat about the festival.
“I can now reasonably foresee that these movies will ultimately become classics in Philippine cinema and will continue to draw audiences decades after their debut in theaters this Christmas.”
Official entries
The official entries are “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” (Robin Padilla, Vina Morales, Daniel Padilla and Jasmine Curtis), “English Only, Please” (Derek Ramsay and Jennylyn Mercado), “Feng Shui 2” (Kris Aquino and Coco Martin), “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” (Dingdong Dantes and Isabelle Daza), “Magnum Muslim .357” (Jeorge Estregan and Sam Pinto), “My Big Bossing” (Vic Sotto, Marian Rivera, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Nikki Gil, Nino and Alfonso Muhlach), “Praybeyt Benjamin 2” (Vice Ganda, Richard Yap and Bimby Aquino-Yap) and “Shake, Rattle and Roll XV” (Dennis Trillo, Lovi Poe and Carla Abellana).
Entries to the New Wave section will be screened at SM Megamall and Glorietta 4 cinemas from December 17 to 24, to pave the way for the mainstream festival which starts on Christmas Day, December 25.
The annual grand parade of stars on Tuesday, December 23, 1 p.m., kicks off at Bradco Avenue, Paranaque City. The awards night is set on Saturday, December 27, 7 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
The MMFF’s beneficiaries are Mowelfund, the Film Academy of the Philippines, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Optical Media Board and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
