A second MMFF in summer mulled

Are you keen on having another Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), but this time, to run during summer?

The annual MMFF, which features an all-Filipino lineup of films, is held for two weeks starting Christmas Day. This time, however, its Part 2 would either be in April or May, according to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chair Liza Diño.

Talks started in 2018, when Sen. Bong Go, then special assistant to the president, suggested that a film festival similar to the MMFF be done every quarter.

Aga Muhlach (left) and Nadine Lustre topbill an entry in the 2019 MMFF.

“He was one of the jury members in last year’s MMFF. I guess he enjoyed it because he asked me, ‘Liza, why does this only happen once a year?’ So I suggested that we should come up with something every summer, too,” recalled the FDCP chief.

“We will hand to him the proposal soon,” Diño declared. “You see, we can curate summer blockbuster films for April or May; and then have the PPP (Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino) every September with films that are very edgy; a lineup that’s brave, bold and reflective of today’s generation.

“Then, we can have our MMFF December lineup that’s just for the family, in time for the Yuletide season.”

Diño pointed out: “I think we should accept any platform that will champion local films and will give us space. That’s what we need—space—for the local film industry to thrive. [A second MMFF] is perfect because, these days, we no longer have films for children, nine years old and above.”—MARINEL R. CRUZ