Pepe Diokno calls for support as ‘Isang Himala’ is ‘down to 9 cinemas’

Pepe Diokno (far right) during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Gabi ng Parangal. Image: Facebook/MMFF

Pepe Diokno, director of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry “Isang Himala,” expressed hope that more cinemas would open its doors for “Isang Himala” as he said it’s currently screened in only nine cinemas.

Diokno took to his X (formerly Twitter) page on Friday, December 9, to express his dismay over the MMFF entry’s limited screening.

“Just got the heartbreaking news that ‘Isang Himala’ is down to 9 cinemas… Pero madadagdagan tayo ng Powerplant bukas (But we’ll be added in Power Plant tomorrow),” he said, referring to a mall in Rockwell, Makati.

The filmmaker appealed to the public to watch the MMFF 2024 entry “before it’s too late.”

“Please watch the film before it’s too late, and please request the film from your nearest cinema if it’s not yet showing in your area,” he said.

Just got the heartbreaking news that “Isang Himala” is down to 9 cinemas…Pero madadagdagan tayo ng Powerplant bukas! Please watch the film before it’s too late, and please request the film from your nearest cinema if it’s not yet showing in your area 🙏❤️‍🔥 #MMFF50 #MMFF2024

— Jose Lorenzo Diokno (@PepeDiokno) December 27, 2024

Meanwhile, MMFF 2024 Best Supporting Actress Kakki Teodoro hopes the film will be screened in theaters to give the public a chance to appreciate its story.

“It’s very sad. Gusto namin na sana mas marami pang sinehan (We want the film to be shown in more cinemas), especially the provinces. Some provinces didn’t give us a chance,” Teodoro told INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of the Gabi ng Parangal. “I hope they can show our film there and I’m sure magugustuhan nila (they will like it).”

Viewer demand

Touching on the number of cinemas per film, MMDA and MMFF chairman Romando Artes told reporters that it’s a matter of “accommodating the demands” of entries that perform strongly at the box office.

“We really have to accommodate the demands ng malalakas na pelikula… Pero what I can assure them is dadagdagan ang theaters (We really have to accommodate the demands of films that perform strongly. But what I can assure them is more theaters will be added),” he said on the red carpet of the festival’s Gabi ng Parangal.

Aicelle Santos in a scene from MMFF 2024 entry “Isang Himala.” Image: Courtesy of CreaZion Studios

Artes reiterated that the uneven distribution of films happens “every year,” even as he assured that the MMFF committee is doing its best to ensure that more cinemas will distribute the entries evenly.

“Nirereview ng ating committee… tingnan natin. But what I can promise is that pagtapos [ma-boost] ang demand ng malalaking pelikula, ibabalik po natin sila. Every year naman gan’un. Hindi sa isang pelikula (This is being reviewed by our committee. Let’s see. But what I can promise is that once the demand for the bigger films is met, we’ll return them. This happens every year. Not just in a single film),” he said.

“Isang Himala” bagged a total of five awards at the MMFF 2024 Gabi ng Parangal, namely 4th Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Theme Song, Best Musical Score, and Special Jury Prize.