MMFF to screen 50 films for P50 to celebrate golden anniversary

Some of the films featured in MMFF 2024’s “SineSigla sa Singkwenta” campaign. Images: Facebook/Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Official

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will be screening 50 of its past films, as part of its “Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta 50@P50” program to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The MMFF announced that 50 of its films will be screened to the public for P50 on Facebook on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Featuring films that “encapsulate the historical, social, and artistic narratives of their respective eras,” the featured films were a testament to the festival’s enduring legacy throughout its 50-year run.

The “Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta 50@P50” program will run from Sept. 25 to Oct. 15 in select cinemas, according to MMFF overall concurrent chairman Atty. Don Artes.

“‘Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta’ reflects MMFF’s commitment to promoting local films. The films included in the lineup are well-loved classics, award-winning, and highly acclaimed movies that will take viewers on a journey back in time and probably bring in a lot of good memories,” said Artes.

While some films have been restored for a new generation of audiences, some were “kept in their original imperfections” in hopes of bringing nostalgia.

Here are the films part of MMFF’s lineup:

1. “Agila ng Maynila (1988)” – Fernando Poe Jr.
2. “Ang Alamat ng Lawin (2002)” – Fernando Poe Jr. and Ina Raymundo
3. “Atsay (1978)” – Nora Aunor, Ronald Corveu, and Armida Siguion-Reyna
4. “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2 (2016)” – Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos, and Joel Torre
5. “Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing (1983)” – Christopher de Leon, Jay Ilagan, and Johnny Delgado
6. “Mga Bilanggong Birhen (1977)” – Alma Moreno, Trixia Gomez, Armida Siguion-Reyna, and Rez Cortez
7. “Big Night! (2021)” – Christian Bables, Nico Antonio, Sunshine Teodoro, and Eugene Domingo
8. “Blue Moon (2006)” – Eddie Garcia, Christopher de Leon, Boots Anson-Roa, Mark Herras, Dennis Trillo, and Jennylyn Mercado
9. “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo (2014)” – Robin Padilla, Vina Morales, Eddie Garcia, Daniel Padilla, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith
10. “Brutal (1980)” – Amy Austria, Charo Santos, and Jay Ilagan
11. “Captain Barbell (1986)” – Edu Manzano, Herbert Bautista, Presly Ruiz, and Boy Fajardo
12. “Crying Ladies (2003)” – Sharon Cuneta, Hilda Koronel, and Angel Aquino
13. “Darna (1991)” – Nanette Medved
14. “Die Beautiful (2016)” – Paolo Ballesteros, Christian Bables, and Joel Torre
15. “Feng Shui II (2014)” – Kris Aquino and Coco Martin
16. “Firefly (2023)” – Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell
17. “Gandarrapido! Revenger Squad (2017)” – Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, and Pia Wurtzbach
18. “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (1976)” – Christopher de Leon and Gloria Diaz
19. “Himala (1982)” – Nora Aunor
20. “Imortal (1989)” – Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon
21. “Insiang (1976)” – Hilda Koronel, Mona Lisa, and Ruel Vernal
22. “Jose Rizal (1998)” – Cesar Montano, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, and Mickey Ferriols
23. “Karma (1981)” – Vilma Santos, Tommy Abuel, and Ronaldo Valdez
24. “Karnal (1983)” – Charito Solis and Philip Salvador
25. “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (2006)” – Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo
26. “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising (1977)” – Christopher de Leon and Hilda Koronel
27. “Kung Mawawala Ka Pa (1993)” – Christopher de Leon, Dawn Zulueta, and Pilar Pilapil
28. “Langis at Tubig (1980)” – Vilma Santos and Dindo Fernando
29. “Ang Larawan (2017)” – Joanna Ampil, Rachel Alejandro, and Paulo Avelino
30. “Magic Temple (1996)” – Jason Salcedo, Junell Hernando, and Marc Solis
31. “Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga (2011)” – Jeorge “E.R.” Estregan, Carla Abellana, and Phillip Salvador
32. “Mano Po (2002)” – Maricenl Soriano, Kris Aquino, Richard Gomez, and Ara Mina
33. “Markova: Comfort Gay (2000)” – Dolphy, Eric Quizon, Jeffrey Quizon, and Loren Legarda
34. “May Minamahal (1993)” – Aga Muhlach and Aiko Melendez
35. “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-gamo (1976)” – Nora Aunor
36. “Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013)” – Aga Muhlach, Xia Vigor, and Bela Padilla
37. “The Moises Padilla Story (1961)” – Leopoldo Salcedo and Joseph Estrada
38. “Moral (1982)” – Gina Alajar, Sandy Andolong, Anna Marin, and Lorna Tolentino
39. “Okay Ka Fairy Ko (2004)” – Vic Sotto and Kristine Hermosa
40. “One More Try (2012)” – Angel Locsin, Angelica Panganiban, Dingdong Dantes, and Zanjoe Marudo
41. “Ang Panday (1980)” – Fernando Poe Jr.
42. “Ang Panday (2009)” – Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Phillip Salvador, and Iza Calzado
43. “Rainbow’s Sunset (2018)” – Eddie Garcia, Tony Mabesa, and Gloria Romero
44. “Shake, Rattle, and Roll (1984)” – Charito Solis, William Martinez, Janice de Belen, PJ Abellana, and Joel Torre
45. “Shake, Rattle, and Roll II (1990)” – Eddie Gutierrez, Eric Quizon, Janice de Belen, Isabel Granada, Caridad Sanchez, Joey Marquez, Carmina Villaroel, Daisy Romualdez, Sylvia Sanchez, and Manilyn Reynes
46. “Sunday Beauty Queen (2016)” – Rudelyn Acosta, Cherrie Mae Bretana, and Mylyn Jacobo
47. “Ang Tanging Ina Mo (2010)” – Ai-Ai delas Alas, Eugene Domingo, Marvin Agustin, Nikki Valdez, and Carlo Aquino
48. “Tanging Yaman (2000)” – Gloria Romero, Hilda Koronel, Johnny Delgado, Edu Manzano, Dina Bonnevie, Joel Torre, and Cherry Pie Picache
49. “Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure (2001)” – Armando Goyena, Danilo Barrios, Albert Martinez, and Vic Diaz
50. “Walang Forever (2015)” – Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales

Earlier this month, the MMFF celebrated the country’s biggest film stars through a colorful mural which will be displayed in EDSA.

Some of the actors featured in the mural are the late Dolphy, Fernando Poe Jr., Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Vic Sotto, Amy Austria, and Maricel Soriano, to name a few.

The 2024 edition of the MMFF will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2025.

The first batch of films included in this year’s festival are “And the breadwinner is…,” “Green Bones,” “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital,” “Himala: Isang Musikal,” and “The Kingdom.”