8 finalists announced for 1st summer MMFF

Janine Gutierrez (left) and Paulo Avelino in “Ngayon Kaya”

“It’s a lineup that the December film fest should top,” declared writer Roy Iglesias of the eight finalists for the first Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (SMMFF), which was announced on Monday afternoon.

“It’s also better when you’re choosing from finished films. This is because what the selection committee members have seen will also be what the audience will watch when they go to the cinemas [on April 11],” said Iglesias, who is a member of the selection committee, headed by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera.

“Twenty-four entries were submitted,” Iglesias added.

“I have full confidence in the members of the selection committee, especially chairman Bien, who is considered an institution in the industry,” said Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Danilo Lim.

Cast of “Isa Pang Bahaghari” (clockwise, from top left): Phillip Salvador, Nora Aunor and Michael de Mesa—EDWARD DELA CUESTA

The MMDA is the overall organizer of the MMFF. “He is backed up by other equally competent members of the board. The films are really good, almost comparable to the lineup last December 2019.”

The following films will be screened from April 11 (Black Saturday) until April 21, in cinemas nationwide.

The romantic films included in the lineup this year are: Mac Alejandre’s “Tagpuan,” starring Alfred Vargas and Shaina Magdayao, produced by Alternative Vision Cinema; and Prime Cruz’s “Ngayon Kaya,” starring Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez, produced by T-Rex Entertainment;

RC delos Reyes’ “Love the Way You Lie,” with Xian Lim and Alex Gonzaga in the lead, produced by TinCan Productions, Ten17P and Viva Films, and Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Love or Money,” starring Coco Martin and Angelica Panganiban, produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions. Both are romantic-comedy films.

Meanwhile, two family dramas will be featured in the lineup. They are: Joel Lamangan’s “Isa Pang Bahaghari,” starring Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador, produced by Heaven’s Best Entertainment; and Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Coming Home,” featuring Jinggoy Estrada and Sylvia Sanchez, produced by Maverick Films.

The only action movie among the finalists is Lawrence Fajardo’s “A Hard Day,” starring Dingdong Dantes, produced by Viva Communications Inc.; while the sole horror entry is Easy Ferrer’s “The Missing,” starring Joseph Marco and Ritz Azul, produced by Regal Entertainment.

According to Lumbera, the finalists 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.

Also at the event held at the Novotel Manila on Monday, the award winners of the 2019 MMFF all received their plaques of appreciation and cash prizes.

The “Parade of the Stars,” hosted by the Quezon City government, will be on April 4, starting at the Welcome Rotonda up to the Quezon City Memorial Circle.