This year’s 8 MMFF official entries ‘of good quality,’ says Nat’l Artist Bienvenido Lumbera

Jennylyn Mercado

“We’re confident that the Filipino audience will be satisfied,” said National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera of the eight finalists of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in December.

Lumbera, who heads the MMFF selection committee, described the chosen entries as “of good quality” during their formal launch at the Club Filipino in Ortigas on Wednesday.

“With all the curiosity on how the selection committee has chosen the films, you will see that a lot of people are really interested in Filipino films,” he observed.

The last four finalists based on finished film submissions, as announced on the same day, are: Brillante Ma Mendoza’s “Mindanao,” starring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon; Crisanto Aquino’s “Write About Love,” starring Miles Ocampo and Rocco Nacino; Rodel Nacianceno’s “3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon,” starring Coco Martin, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Jennylyn Mercado; and Alvin Yapan’s “Culion,” starring Iza Calzado, Meryll Soriano and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

Coco Martin

The MMFF executive committee previously announced the first four official entries based on script submission, as follows: Nuel Naval’s “Miracle in Cell #7,” featuring Aga Muhlach and Bela Padilla; Mike Tuviera’s “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity,” featuring Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza; Carlo Ledesma’s “Sunod,” featuring Carmina Villaroel; and Barry Gonzales’ “The Mall, The Merrier,” featuring Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis.

The 45th MMFF will run from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.