MANILA, Philippines — Coco Martin, Dingdong Dantes, and Jinggoy Estrada are some of the big names who will headline the first-ever summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday announced the movie fest’s eight official entries.
Martin, who starred in the 45th MMFF edition entry “3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon!” last December, will team up with Angelica Panganiban for the rom-com film “Love or Money,” produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
Dantes, alongside John Arcilla, will star in the action film “A Hard Day” produced by Viva Communications, Inc.
After his failed attempt to return to the Senate, Estrada returns to the big screen for the family drama “Coming Home.” The film, directed by Adolf Alix Jr., will also star Sylvia Sanchez, Martin Del Rosario and Edgar Allan Guzman.
Also part of the lineup are “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” starring Phillip Salvador and Nora Aunor; the rom-com fantasy movie “Love the Way U Lie” starring Xian Lim and Alex Gonzaga; “Tagpuan” with Alfred Vargas, Iza Calzado and Shaina Magdayao; the romance film “Ngayon Kaya” starring Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez; and, “The Missing” with Joseph Marco and Ritz Azul.
According to MMFF selection committee head, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, the films were chosen based on the following criteria: artistic excellence (40 percent), commercial appeal (40 percent), Filipino cultural sensibility (10 percent) and global appeal (10 percent).
The first summer MMFF will open on April 11, and will run until April 21. The festival’s awards night, also known as “Gabi ng Parangal,” will be held on April 13 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
The upcoming festival will also have its own Parade of Stars set for April 4, with Quezon City hosting the festivities.
Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte said the parade will stretch seven-kilometers, starting from Welcome Rotonda and will end at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
“This is the first summer film fest na gagawin natin. Talagang we have no choice but to make this successful, ibigay natin lahat ng suporta (We have no choice but to make it successful, let’s give all our support),” MMDA and concurrent MMFF chairman Danilo Lim said.