(From left) Ysabel Ortega, Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Janella Salvador. Images: X/@GMA_PA, X/@cornerstone_ofc, X/@KapamilyaTFC
Dingdong Dantes, Piolo Pascual, Janella Salvador, and other stars of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023have jetted off to Los Angeles, California in the United States for the first Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), which will take place from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2.
The Hollywood-based festival, which was launched in November of last year, aims to strengthen the Philippine film industry by screening local films in the US. All movie entries during the MMFF 2023 will be screened at the TCL Chinese Theatre, such as “Rewind,” “Firefly,” “GomBurZa,” “Mallari,” “Becky & Badette,” “When I Met You in Tokyo,” “K(ampon),” “Penduko,” “Broken Heart’s Trip,” and “Family of Two.”
Dantes will be doing solo duty as promoter of “Rewind,” his movie with wife Marian Rivera. The movie has just recently been named the highest-grossing film in the Philippines, surpassing the 2019 hit “Hello, Love, Goodbye.”
Dingdong Dantes is ready to bring #TheRewindEffect in Hollywood! 💚⏪
Catch Dingdong Dantes at the ‘Rewind’ Manila International Film Festival screening with Q&A!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW:
🎟️ https://t.co/T41u4TGNpn pic.twitter.com/XPK1yozTgr— The Filipino Channel (@KapamilyaTFC) January 29, 2024
Dingdong Dantes is ready to bring #TheRewindEffect in Hollywood! 💚⏪
Catch Dingdong Dantes at the ‘Rewind’ Manila International Film Festival screening with Q&A at TCL Chinese 6 Theatre on January 29 at 8:30 PM. ‘Rewind’ will have another screening on January 31 at 3:00 PM.… pic.twitter.com/HIwgi6mHOc
— Star Cinema (@StarCinema) January 29, 2024
Aside from Dantes, “Mallari” stars Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador were also seen promoting their film before flying off to Los Angeles, as seen on the X page of Pascual’s agency Cornerstone Entertainment.
ICYMI: “Mallari” lead star @piolopascual_ph will be with co-star Janella Salvador at the Manila International Film Festival this Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 in Los Angeles, California 🎬#PioloPascual #CornerstoneArtist #MallariTheMovie pic.twitter.com/9mnQtcbM2X
— Cornerstone Entertainment (@cornerstone_ofc) January 28, 2024
Meanwhile, Ysabel Ortega will represent the cast and crew of MMFF 2023 Best Picture “Firefly” at the MIFF. She posed for a photo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) before heading off, as seen on GMA Public Affairs’ X account.
“‘Firefly star Ysabel Ortega glows with excitement to represent team Firefly at the Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California! Safe travels, Ysabel!,” its caption read.
SAFE TRAVELS, TEAM FIREFLY! ✨
LOOK: #FireflyMovie star @YsaOrtega_ glows with excitement to represent team Firefly at the Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California!
Safe travels, Ysabel! pic.twitter.com/l338Htwm2J
— GMA Public Affairs (@GMA_PA) January 28, 2024
Alden Richards, Christopher de Leon, Beauty Gonzalez, Cedrick Juan, Enchong Dee, Eugene Domingo, John Arcilla, Andoy Ranay, and Christian Bables are also expected to grace the star-studded festival.
Among the culminating activities of the five-day MIFF are screenings, question-and-answer sessions with the stars, and an awards gala at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Blvd. on Feb. 1.
The results of the award ceremony will be different from the MMFF 2023 Gabi ng Parangal in Quezon City, as it will have its own set of Best Picture, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Audience Award, and Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
The winners will be deliberated by distinguished judges Marie Jamora, Mari Acevedo, Leah Anova, Reggie Lee, David Maquiling, and Sumalee Montano.