 |
| The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with representatives of the eight official entries for the 1st Metro Manila Summer Film Festival to be held on April 11-21, 2020 in all cinemas nationwide. (Image Source: Philippine News Agency/Vincent Carl Dela Cruz) |
During the launch held last March 2nd at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City, Lim expressed optimism that the summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will be as successful as the traditional film fest which is held every Christmas season in spite of the growing proliferation and outbreak of the CoVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus) affecting thousands around the world. Late last year, the MMFF had a rough start due to calamities that happened during the holiday season in Visayas and Mindanao compared to its previous editions where it usually reach its target gross sales of about Php1.2 billion every year.
Aside from the launch, the MMFF Executive Committee bared the first eight official entries for the MMSFF which are slated to be shown nationwide after the Lenten season. These were chosen from 51 film submissions by a Board of Jurors comprising of well-respected names in the industry based on the following criteria: artistic excellence (40%), commercial appeal (40%), Filipino cultural sensibility (10%) and global appeal (10%). These are the following:
1. A Hard Day (Viva Films) starring Dingdong Dantes, John Arcilla, Janno Gibbs, Al Tantay and Meg Imperial; directed by Law Fajardo
2. Tagpuan (Alternative Vision Cinema) starring Alfred Vargas, Iza Calzado and Shaina Magdayao; directed by Mac Alejandre
3. Love The Way U Lie (TinCan Films, Ten17 Productions and Viva Films) starring Xian Lim, Alex Gonzaga and Kylie Verzosa; directed by RC Delos Reyes
4. Isa Pang Bahaghari (Heaven's Best Entertainment) starring Nora Aunor, Philip Salvador, Michael De Mesa, Zanjoe Marudo, Joseph Marco and Sanya Lopez; directed by Joel Lamangan
5. The Missing (Regal Entertainment) starring Joseph Marco, Ritz Azul and Miles Ocampo; directed by Easy Ferrer
6. Love Or Money (Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Films) starring Coco Martin and Angelica Panganiban; directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar
7. Ngayon Kaya (T-Rex Entertainment) starring Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez; directed by Prime Cruz
8. Coming Home (Maverick Films, line produced by ALV Films) starring Jinggoy Estrada, Sylvia Sanchez, Martin Del Rosario, Ariella Arida, Jake Ejercito and Edgar Allan Guzman; directed by Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.
The festival kicks off with a Parade of Stars hosted by the Quezon City government led by Hon. Mayor Joy Belmonte on April 4th which will showcase floats carrying the main stars of the eight official entries from Welcome Rotonda via Quezon Avenue eastbound straight towards Quezon Memorial Circle. Just like the annual MMFF, the MMSFF will have an Awards Night and part of its proceeds will go to the festival's beneficiaries such as Mowelfund, Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), the Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council (MPAPC), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Optical Media Board (OMB).
UPDATE: Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee officially announced the postponement of the 1st Metro Manila Summer Film Festival (MMSFF) to an undisclosed later date as mandated by the State of National Public Emergercy and declaration of Metro Manila being placed under community quarantine ordered by Philipine President Rodrigo Duterte as well as precautionary measures based on the guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH).
