Pepe Diokno seeks support for MMFF entry ‘Himala’ amid limited screenings

Pepe Diokno’s 2024 MMFF entry “Isang Himala” | Image: Instagram/@pepediokno,@thecreazionstudios

Film director Pepe Diokno made a heartfelt plea to his followers, urging them to support his latest work, “Isang Himala,” one of the entries to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), despite its limited availability in cinemas compared to other festival film entries. 

On X (formerly Twitter), Diokno revealed that only 31 cinemas are set to screen his movie, as he expressed hope for a change of narrative by encouraging viewers to watch the film.

“Hi everyone, been told that ‘Isang Himala’ has only 31 cinemas so far (because of the ‘genre’, lack of ‘box office stars’). Hope you can still give our film a chance, and if you like it, your support will help convince more cinemas to screen us,” he wrote, adding the necessary links to pre-book screening tickets.

Image: X/@PepeDiokno

Diokno’s statement came after film critic Philbert Dy took to social media to question the allocation of screenings given to each film entry.

“I’ve been told that as of now, Green Bones will only have 40 cinemas nationwide. Isang Himala will have fewer than that. What’s the point of having ten films if they aren’t given equal opportunity?” he asked.

Dy’s query generated various reactions from netizens, with some emphasizing the need for fair treatment of all the film entries.

Image: X/@philbertdy

“Louder! All MMFF movies should have equal cinema distribution,” said one netizen.

“True! Dapat all films are given equal showing days—kahit 2 weeks man lang (even just for two weeks). Then the following weeks, bahala na cinemas (for the following weeks, it’s up to the cinemas). Bat pa nagfestival? (Why a film festival in the first place?)” pitched in another netizen.

“I really think it should be both ways. Equal opportunity in the beginning, then clamor for more cinemas once good reviews are out and word-of-mouth kicks in. But to have so few cinemas in the beginning is heartbreaking, especially if you know you have a good film,” weighed in another X user.

Image: X/@philbertdy

The following 10 film entries are set to open in cinemas on Christmas Day: Vice Ganda’s “And the Breadwinner Is…,” Dennis Trillo’s “Green Bones,” Jane de Leon and Enrique Gil’s “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital,” Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante’s “Himala: Isang Musikal” and Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual’s “The Kingdom”;

Vilma Santos and Nadine Lustre’s thriller film “Uninvited,” Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin’s romantic comedy “My Future You,” Julia Montes and Arjo Atayde’s action movie “Topakk,” Julia Barreto and Carlo Aquino’s romantic film “Hold Me Close” and Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino’s horror movie “Espantaho.”

Diokno is known for his award-winning MMFF 2023 film “GomBurZa.”