9:51PM | By Stylish Team
Manila Film Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Earlier today, the country’s leading movie fest announced the first five films participating this year, including the project of Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual together. The five finalists are based from the 39 submitted movie scripts to MMFF.
The announcement was made during the grand launch of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival with the theme “Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta.” The event was hosted by Jake Ejercito and Isabelle Daza, and attended by MMFF Executive Committee led by Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Don Artes, members of entertainment media and guests including First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan delivered the opening remarks.
Usually announcing just the first four films chosen for the new season, MMFF Executive Committee decided to choose five movie title finalists that are part of the film fest.
The films include “And The Breadwinner Is …” by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. & The IdeaFirst Company starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo, “Green Bones” by GMA Pictures starring Sofia Pablo and Dennis Trillo, “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital” by Reality MM Studios, INC., starring Jane de Leon, Enrique Gil, Alexa Miro and MJ Lastimosa; “Himala, Isang Musikal” by Kapitol Films/Unitel starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante; and “The Kingdom” APT/Mzet and MQuest starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual.
“And The Breadwinner Is …” by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. & The IdeaFirst Company starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo will be directed by award-winning filmmaker Jun Robles Lana.
On the other hand, “Green Bones,” a film produced by GMA Pictures and Public Affairs was also announced as MMFF finalist. It will star Dennis Trillo and Sofia Pablo. “Green Bones” will be directed by Zig Dulay, the filmmaker behind MMFF 2023 Best Picture “Firefly” starring Euwenn Mikaell and Alessandra de Rossi. The screenplay was written by National Artist Ricky Lee and MMFF 2023 Best Screenplay winner Anj Atienza, while the story is by JC Rubio, senior documentary manager of GMA Public Affairs.
The third finalist is “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital” (Horror) by Reality MM Studios Inc., with stars Jane de Leon and Enrique Gil, to be director by Kerwin Go.
Musical film ‘Himala: Isang Musical’ by Kapitol Films/Unitel was also included. The film is directed by Pepe Diokno, and starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante.
Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual are working together on “The Kingdom,” an action/family drama by APT/Mzet and MQuest. The film will be directed by Michael Tuvera.
The much-awaited MMFF 50 celebration will be filled with a series of exciting events leading to the annual festival. These include masterclass workshops for students in Manila, Cebu, Davao, the launch of a coffeetable book, celebrity golf tournaments, and more.
On December 15, the annual Manila Film Fest parade of stars will be held. Meanwhile, the MMFF Sponsor’s Night will happen on December 21.
Filipino-American visual artist Jefrë will craft this year’s trophy for the MMFF Awards night, as “The Gabi ng Parangal” will be held on December 27.
Last year, only 800 plus cinemas were opened, and the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) will look into the possibility of opening 900 cinemas for this year’s MMFF.
Meanwhile, the deadline for the finished film submission where the other official MMFF entries shall be chosen will be on September 30.
Manila Film Festival got back on its feet in 2022, after being shut down by the global pandemic in 2020-2021.
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