The float of the fantasy-comedy film “Fantastica,” starring Vice Ganda, Richard Gutierrez and Dingdong Dantes, is a carnival-inspired tent decked with colorful giant pinwheels. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — As the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opened on Christmas Day, many Filipinos lined up in the cinemas, urging malls to adjust their operating hours.
MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer said Wednesday some cinemas asked permission to start screening the “Magic 8” entries at 9 a.m. instead of the usual 11 a.m.
“Nagrequest na yung mga ibang sinehan, the SM chain at saka yung Ayala cinemas, nationwide a, sa dami kasi ng mga tao na nag-aabang ng mga pelikula, instead of the usual 11 o’clock na pagbubukas sa mga malls, a las nueve pa lang nagrequest na silang magbukas,” Ferrer said in an interview over Radyo INQUIRER’s “Banner Story.”
The MMFF spokesperson also said last full show tickets for the films were already being sold as early as 5 p.m. which led one cinema to ask permission from the MMFF if they could extend their operation.
“They asked for permission na kung pwede pa daw silang mag-operate. So pinayagan naman po sila ng MMFF,” Ferrer said.
Further, he said: “Yung SM po, yung sa Mall of Asia, nagkaroon pa ng 1:30 screening ng mga pelikula. So natapos sila ng mga alas tres ng umaga po sa pagpapalabas ng mga pelikula.”
The MMFF films are “Fantastica,” “Otlum,” “Aurora,” “Rainbow’s Sunset,” “Mary, Marry Me,” “The Girl In The Orange Dress,” “Jack Em Popoy” and “One Great Love.”
The eight competing movies at the MMFF that premiered on Christmas Day will run until January 7, 2019.
MMFF is an annual event organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to “help promote and enhance the preservation, growth, and development of the local film industry.”/lb
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