MMFF OKs 6 more entries including Vilma Santos-Christopher de Leon starrer, two period movies

Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos in the poster for the MMFF entry “When I Met You in Tokyo.” Image from Instagram / @vilmarosarecto

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has approved the inclusion of six additional movies for showing in the 49th edition of the film festival in December, among them the comeback movie of Vilma Santos with longtime love team Christopher de Leon.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Don Artes, who also chairs the MMFF announced Tuesday the completion of the roster of movies entries for the annual film festival, with the addition of six films, among them Santos and de Leon’s much awaited pairing in “When I Met You in Tokyo.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vilma Santos Recto (@rosavilmasantosrecto)

The love story, set in the Japanese capital, also stars fellow screen veteran Tirso Cruz III, and young stars Cassy Legaspi and Darren Espanto.

Aside from the Santos-de Leon starrer, the other entries were two period films “Mallari” (horror) which stars Piolo Pascual as the titular killer-priest, as well as Janella Salvador, JC Santos Elisse Joson and Gloria Diaz; and “Gomburza” (historical) with Dante Rivero, Cedric Juan, and Enchong Dee playing the martyred priests.

Pascual is also part of the “Gomburza” cast as Padre Pédro Pelaéz, the Filipino clergy leader who was a mentor of Padre José Burgos.

Completing the roster are: “Becky and Badette” (comedy) which stars Eugene Domingo, Pokwang, Agot Isidro and Romnick Sarmenta; “Firefly” (fantasy) featuring Alessandra de Rossi, Cherry Pie Picache, Euwenn Mikaell, Epy Quizon, Yayo Aguila, with special participation from Dingdong Dantes; and “Broken Hearts Trip” (comedy) headlined by Christian Bables, Andoy Ranay and Jaclyn Jose.

These films join the previously announced entries of “A Mother and Son’s Story” (drama) with Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards; “(K)Ampon” (horror) with Beauty Gonzales and Derek Ramsay; “Penduko” (fantasy) with Matteo Guidicelli; and, “Rewind” (romance drama) with Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.

“Originally, ang plan lang naman talaga ay apat; fortunately, ‘yung four, five, six po na rank ay sobrang magkakadikit po ng scores. Now we decided na ‘wag na i-break ‘yung tie at bigyan po ng pagkakataon itong mga pelikulang ito na mailabas dito po sa ating 49th edition ng MMFF,” said Artes at a press conference.

(Originally, the plan was really only four; fortunately, the four, five, and six ranks have very close scores. Now, we decided not to break the tie and give these films a chance to be released here in our 49th edition of the MMFF.)

Highest number of entries

The MMFF Selection Committee also had to choose among 30 finished crafts, which is the highest number of submissions they have received so far, he noted.

The criteria used in choosing the final entries were: artistic excellence (40 percent), commercial appeal (40 percent), global appeal (10 percent), and Filipino cultural sensibility (10 percent).

Despite having ten entries from the traditional eight, the official is confident it would not adversely affect the competition among all MMFF films.

“From 600 cinemas naman po last year, ay nangako ang cinema operators na pipilitin nila na more than 800 cinemas po ang bukas,” said Artes.

(From 600 cinemas last year, the cinema operators promised that they would try to open more than 800 cinemas.)

READ: Summer MMFF 2023 kicks off with star-studded parade in Quezon City

MMFF Selection Committee Chairman Jesse Ejercito likewise said that the ratings received by the films for the selection committee were nearly identical.

“Dikit-dikit ang kanilang mga rating [ng film entries] sa score sheet kaya napakahirap,” Ejercito said.

(Their ratings [of film entries] are so close on the score sheet that it’s very difficult.)

“Wide ngayon ang choice ng moviegoers, pwedeng bumalik-balik sa sine ang moviegoers maraming magagandang pelikula ngayon,” he said.

(The choice of moviegoers is wide now; moviegoers can go back to the movies again and again, and there are many good movies today.)

Lowering the price of movie tickets

When asked about the possibility of lowering ticket prices, Artes said they are in negotiations with theater owners and producers, who also receive a portion of the ticket sales.

“Makiki-usap po tayo, kami naman po ay nakikinig sa sentimyento ng publiko at pakiki-usapan po natin sila, pag-uusapan po siguro namin ‘yan sa susunod na pagpupulong,” he said.

(We will talk; we are listening to the sentiments of the public, and we will talk about them; maybe we will talk about that in the next meeting.)

The MMFF parade is set to be conducted on December 16 or 17 in Camanava, and the direction will be from Navotas City, Malabon City, Caloocan City, and lastly, Valenzuela City.

Meanwhile, the awards night will be on December 27. EDV