President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. —PNA photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos on Thursday urged Filipinos to support the Philippines’ film industry by watching the 10 entries in the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), citing the “golden joys and lessons” from the films that moviegoers will take home with them.
In a one-minute video message for the two-week MMFF, the President said watching the MMFF flicks can be a way for moviegoers to bond with their families and friends over the holidays.
“This Christmas, our stories as a people will take centerstage. This is because of the special celebration of the 50th year of the Metro Manila Film Festival that has been part of our lives and culture as Filipinos,” he said.
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Marcos also vouched for the quality of the 10 movies in the MMFF, adding that this year’s selection of films will entertain and educate moviegoers.
The MMFF will run until Jan. 7, during which no foreign films and only MMFF movies are shown in theaters across the country, except for IMAX and 4D theaters.
10 entries
The 10 MMFF movies are: “Green Bones,” starring Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid; “And the Breadwinner Is…,” starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo; “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” starring Jane de Leon and Enrique Gil; “Himala: Isang Musikal,” starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante, “The Kingdom,” starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual, “My Future You,” starring Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin; “Uninvited,” starring Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre and Aga Muhlach; “Topakk,” starring Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes; “Hold Me Close,” starring Carlo Aquino and Julia Barretto; and “Espantaho,” starring Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino.
This year’s selection ranges in genre from comedy, drama and action to suspense, horror, romance, thrillers, and even a musical. Most entries were given a Parental Guidance rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.
A copy of the President’s video message promoting the MMFF was uploaded on his Facebook and Instagram accounts on Thursday morning. The video message is also played in cinemas prior to the exhibition of the MMFF entries.
This is not the first time the President has appealed to the public to support and watch MMFF movies.
After the “Konsyerto sa Palasyo para sa Pelikulang Pilipino” on Dec. 15, which celebrated songs from classic Filipino movies, Mr. Marcos took the occasion to voice support for the festival, saying it “showcases the excellence and talent of the Filipino film industry.”
Dwindling audiences
First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also took to social media after the concert, which she described as celebrating “iconic moments that have shaped the Filipino film industry.”
“Let’s continue to shine a light on the brilliance and creativity of Filipino talent and remind everyone that whether it be in reel or real life, we give the world our best!” she said on Instagram last week.
The first couple’s expression of support for the MMFF comes as the Philippine movie industry continues to suffer from dwindling audiences due to steep ticket costs, the impact of streaming platforms, and the lingering effects of the pandemic.
‘Discouraging results’
Film and TV director Jose Javier Reyes, now head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, told the Inquirer in 2023 that the industry is in a “dismal” state. “The results are very discouraging if we will depend on the cinemas as the source of the ROI (return on investment) of the producers,” he noted.
The 2023 MMFF was a record-breaking year in terms of box office, with the 10 entries earning over P1 billion in gross revenues, led by “Rewind,” which took in P924 million, becoming the highest grossing entry in MMFF history.
The stellar numbers “boosted expectations that Philippine cinema is on its way to a revival and the local audience’s appetite for watching movies at the theater has returned,” noted a February 2024 Inquirer editorial. “The reality, however, is that the local movie industry is still struggling based on the performance of local films shown post-MMFF.”
According to Reyes, “the MMFF last December [2023] yielded a handsome result, right? But we must remember that this is due to the Christmas season. People have money, and people have celebrated Christmas by going to the movies. But Christmas doesn’t happen for 12 months a year. So that is not sustainable.”
Special screenings
In September, in an effort to further drum up support for the MMFF, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, which organizes the annual festival, launched special screenings of classic MMFF movies over the past 50 years, with tickets costing only P50.
The landmark films shown in 40 cinemas in Metro Manila and at least 50 in various provinces included “Jose Rizal,” “Himala,” “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,” “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo,” “Bulaklak ng Maynila,” “Markova,” “Bonifacio Ang Unang Pangulo,” “Yamashita the Tiger’s Treasure,” “Captain Barbell” (1986), “Darna” (1991), “Ang Panday” (1980 and 2009), “Insiang,” “Agila ng Maynila,” “Brutal,” “Imortal” and “Karnal.”