2013 MMDA sponsored Metro Manila Film Festival
Most of the regular moviegoers can easily judge if a movie will flop or not by simply watching its trailers. So, I will include the movie trailers in the forthcoming 39th Metro Manila Film Festival along with brief descriptions.
What is MMFF? Why it always creates a buzz every Christmas season in the Philippines?
The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is an annual film festival in Metro Manila, Philippines featuring the films produced by Filipinos. During the movie festival, which starts on December 25 and ends on the first week of January 2014, no foreign films are shown in theaters around the country. The festival started back in 1975.
This is a good way to give back to all Filipino film makers, who continuously produce movies and provide us ultimate entertainment every year. It would also proper that foreign films are placed on hold for a short period to give way to these local movies.
There are eight official entries in this year's MMFF. The 39th Metro Manila Film Festival is packed with variety of movie genres like drama, action, comedy, horror and suspense, romance, and biography.
Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that an initial Php 500,000 from the proceeds of MMFF will be donated to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. This amount may still increase according to the Chairman.
We highly encourage everyone to watch the 2013 MMFF not just to support Filipino movies, but to help the super typhoon Yolanda victims as well. You get to enjoy different attention-grabbing movies while lending a hand to our fellow countrymen.
Here are the Official Entries in the 39th Metro Manila Film Festival (2013).
10,000 Hours (Action/Drama)
Directed by Joyce Bernal
Produced by Viva Entertainment
Starring Robin Padilla
Also starring Michael de Mesa, Alden Richards, Bela Padilla, Mylene Dizon, Carla Humphries, Pen Medina and Joem Bascon
The action-packed thriller "10,000 Hours" follows the life of Senator Gabriel Alcaraz (Padilla), a man who has "lived by the law and for the law, but betrayed by it." The movie was inspired by events involving former Senator Ping Lacson three years ago, when he went into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection to the November 2000 murders of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.(ABS-CBN news)
San Pedro Calungsod, Batang Martir (Religious/Historical Drama)
Directed and written by Francis O. Villacorta
Produced by HPI Synergy Group in association with Wings Entertainment
Starring Rocco Nacino, Christian Vazquez
Also starring Christian Vazquez, Jestoni Alarcon, Ryan Eigenmann, Robert Correa, Victor Basa and Mercedes Cabral
The historical biopic film centers on the life of the young FIlipino Pedro Calungsod (Nacino), who joined the missionary Fr. Diego San Vitores (Christian Vasquez) in his mission to Guam (1668). It focues on how the Filipino saint changed the natives of Marianas Islands, how he fought for his faith, and how it led to his death.(ABS-CBN)
Boy Girl Bakla Tomboy (Comedy)
Directed by Wenn V. Deramas
Produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films
Starring Vice Ganda, Maricel Soriano and Joey Marquez
Also starring Xyriel Manabat, JM Ibanez, Rhed Bustamante, Kiray Celis, Cristine Reyes, JC de Vera, Ejay Falcon and Ruffa Gutierrez
The comedy film tells the story of quadruplets of both sexes and different sexual orientations separated as infants. In the film, Vice Ganda will be portraying both a gay man and a lesbian in the care of their mother (Soriano), as well as a straight man and woman in the care of their father (Marquez). Hilarity ensues when all four reunites in a shopping mall mishap.(ABS-CBN)
Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay(Horror)
Directed by Frasco Mortiz
Produced by Star Cinema and Regal Films
Starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla
Also starring Shaina Magdayao, Paulo Avelino, Miles Ocampo, Matet de Leon, Janus del Prado
"Pagpag: Siyan na Buhay" revolves around a group of teenagers and the consequences they face as they ignore the Filipino superstition of "shaking off" evil spirits after visiting a wake. The film marks only the second time the "Got To Believe" stars will lead a movie. Director Frasco Mortiz said that fans can expect moments of horror, comedy and a little bit of romance between the two stars.(ABS-CBN)
Kimmy Dora ang Kiyemeng Prequel (Comedy)
Directed and written by Chris Martinez
Produced by MJM Productions and Quantum Films
Starring Eugene Domingo and Sam Milby
Also starring Ariel Ureta, Miriam Quiambao, Moi Bien, Joel Torre, and Angel Aquino
The James Bond-esque comedy film is set before the events of "Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme," the first movie in the series, wherein the twins are seen disputing the ownership of the family corporation. The movie promises to be "mas masaya, mas madaming paandar at mas pinabongga!" Domingo also shared that she got her "best kiss" ever from co-star Milby.(ABS-CBN)
Torky and My Little Bossing (Comedy)
Directed by Marlon Rivera and written by Bibeth Orteza
Produced by OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment, Kris Aquino Productions
Starring Kris Aquino, Vic Sotto, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and James "Bimby" Aquino-Yap
Also starring Jaclyn Jose, Aiza Seguerra, Jose Manalo, Paolo Ballesteros, Barbie Forteza, Neil Coleta, Neil Ryan Sese, Erika Padilla, and Nico Antonio
The comedy film follows the story of what happens when a rich boy Justin (Aquino-Yap), due to threats to his mother's (Aquino) life, is forced to live with Torky (Sotto) and a street child named Ching (Dizon). The movie kicks off when circumstances pushes the contrasting child stars to live under one roof. The movie also marks the movie debut of Aquino's son, Bimby.(ABS-CBN)
Kaleidoscope World
Directed by Eliza Cornejo
Produced by iAct Productions
Starring Sef Cadayona and Yassi Pressman
Also starring Alma Concepcion, Mayton Eugenio, Alireza Libre, Pia Pilapil, Brylle Mondejar, Arnold Reyes, and William Angeles
The hip-hop dance musical pays tribute to the late OPM icon Francis Magalona, and shows the ups and downs in the life of a street dancer. It follows the story of a poor boy Lando (Cadayona) and a rich girl (Pressman), who meets in an audition for an international dance event. It also features performances from internationally-acclaimed dance groups, The Philippines All Stars and the UP Streetdance Club.(ABS-CBN)
Boy Golden
Directed by Chito Rono
Produced by VIVA Entertainment
Starring ER Ejercito and KC Concepcion
Also starring John Estrada, Eddie Garcia, Leo Martinez, Gloria Sevilla, Tonton Gutierrez, Baron Geisler and Joem Bascon
Set in the 1960s, the action movie is based on the life of a notorious Manila gangster, Arturo "Boy Golden" Porcuna (Ejercito). The movie was earlier excluded from the MMFF this year due to excessive violence, but was later reconsidered after the film "My Super Kap" starring Senator Bong Revilla withdrew.(ABS-CBN)
Star Cinema withdrew its entry, "Be Careful With My Heart the movie", from the annual film festival three weeks ago, citing the hectic schedules of the cast and crew in filming for the series as the main reason why the movie will not push through.
Bong Revilla also pulled out his film, My Super Kap, from the festival due to the conflicting schedules of his two co-stars Toni Gonzaga and Ai-Ai delas Alas.
While most of us are expecting the 2013 MMFF entries to be just mainstream movies like the ones shown in previous years and that they lack some unpredictability in their plots, I suppose that the MMFF movies this year have something to make up for it. And most likely, we will be leaving the movie houses in great pleasure.