MMFF releases official box office rankings

Best Actor Paolo Ballesteros from MMFF entry “Die Beautiful” causes a commotion in a slinky, sultry outfit at the Parade of Stars.—Photo by Kim dela Cruz

Shortly after cinemas have agreed to extend the showing of Metro Manila Film Festival movies until Jan. 7, the MMFF Executive Committee has released the official ranking of this year’s eight entries in the box office.

Jun Robles Lana’s film “Die Beautiful” topbilled by festival Best Actor Paolo Ballesteros is leading the box office race in Metro Manila cinemas so far, according to a list released by MMFF public relations head Noel Ferrer on Wednesday.

It was followed by Erik Matti’s “Seklusyon,” which took home seven major awards including Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. Completing the top four are Star Cinema’s Vince and Kath and James and Avid Liongoren’s “Saving Sally.”

“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2” came in fifth, Best Picture “Sunday Beauty Queen” placed sixth, followed by “Oro” at eighth, and “Kabisera” at the last spot.

The MMFF ExeCom also released a different ranking for provincial box office:

1. Vince & Kath & James
2. Seklusyon
3. Die Beautiful
4. Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2
5. Saving Sally
6. Sunday Beauty Queen
7. Oro
8. Kabisera

In an Instagram post, Ferrer said the revamped MMFF “put value on quality over commercial viability” and did not intend to beat last year’s earnings of P1.020 billion. The MMFF ExeCom did not release figures of each entry’s gross.

“Alam naman nating nagkaroon nga ng pagbabago at kasama roon ang demokratisasyon ng kita ng MMFF. Ibig sabihin, sa halip na mapunta ang malaking percentage ng earnings sa iilang malalaking kumpanya lamang, kumikita din ngayon ang mas nakararaming maliliit na producers — (dahil maliliit lang naman ang budget — kumpara sa dati — ng karamihang produksyon) — sapat para makagawa ulit ng makabuluhang pelikula,” Ferrer said.

“Simula pa lang ito. There are a lot of lessons to be learned and things to improve. But it’s good that we have put value on quality over commercial viability. It is not anymore indie versus mainstream — because we know that both can come up with quality films. In the end, there is no price that we can put on audience education and development,” he added.

Ferrer also shared a message from Philip Cheah of the Singapore Film Festival who served as one of the juries: “It was a good spread of films that was interesting to see. If the awards did help the winning films to extend their stay at the box office, then exhibitors should be encouraged to allow a longer period for word of mouth to build.” JE