By Brian Campued
It’s finally Christmas time—and in the Philippines, that can also mean we can watch movies! And what better way to spend your holidays than at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
What’s more special is that the beloved film festival celebrates its 50th year with the theme of “Sinesigla sa Singkwenta”—with an array of genres and themes showcasing Filipino creativity and culture.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto-Antonio urged Filipino families to watch this year’s MMFF entries and support the local film industry.
“The MMFF is more than just an annual film festival because this is also a celebration of 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,” Sotto-Antonio said in a press release.
The 50th MMFF features 10 locally produced films—seven of which are rated suitable for family viewing and the rest for mature audiences, according to the MTRCB.
Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the film festival will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2025.
The annual “Parade of Stars,” featuring colorful floats carrying cast members of the festival entries, was held from the Kartilya ng Katipunan to the Manila Central Post Office last Dec. 21.
Meanwhile, the “Gabi ng Parangal,” or awards night, will be held on Friday (Dec. 27), recognizing the most outstanding films for this year’s MMFF.
The following are the official entries:
- And the Breadwinner is…
- Espantaho
- Green Bones
- Hold Me Close
- Isang Himala
- The Kingdom
- My Future You
- Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
- Topakk
- Uninvited
(with report from Rod Lagusad/PTV News)