Films Starring Vilma Santos, Alden Richards, Sharon Cuneta, Enchong Dee and Marian Rivera Among Entries
Six recently announced entries, plus four previously announced film projects in the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), will be screened in the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Los Angeles on January 30 and 31 and February 1 and 2, 2024. With the lineup of star-studded MMFF entries, the MIFF in LA promises to be an exciting one as well.
The remaining six MMFF entries recently announced by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Romano Artes, MMFF selection committee chairman Jesse Ejercito and executive director Rochelle Ona are:
* Jun Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang
* Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay
* Zig Madamba Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi, Euwenn Mikaell Aleta and Dingdong Dantes
* Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan
* Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador
* Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and de Leon
The four previously announced entries are Nuel Naval’s “A Family of 2 (A Mother and Son Story),” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards; King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay; Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Cristine Reyes; and Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,” starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.
For the first time, the MMFF executive committee decided to make the total of entries this year to 10, instead of the usual 8. These entries to be shown in the 2023 MMFF will be the centerpiece of MIFF at the Directors Guild of America at 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.
The MIFF, the first overseas edition of the MMFF, will be launched on November 2, also at the DGA with a screening of three films chosen from the eight entries in the inaugural summer edition of MMFF (Metro Manila Summer Film Festival – MMSFF) held last April in the Philippines.
These three films and their screening times on Nov. 2 are Chris Martinez’s “Here Comes the Groom,” starring Enchong Dee, Miles Ocampo and Gladys Reyes, MMSFF special jury prize winner, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm; JP Habac Jr.’s “Love You Long Time,” starring Carlo Aquino, Eisel Serrano and Ana Abad Santos, 2:00 – 4:00 pm; Jun Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us,” starring Romnick Sarmenta and Elijah Canlas, which won several MMSFF awards, including best picture, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, including a Q & A with the filmmaker and stars.
The LA launch will also feature a VIP reception and a meet and greet with the stars and filmmakers behind these three films, 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. Tickets to the November 2 screenings and events, to be held at DGA, including other details, are available at: https://manilainternationalfilmfest.com/
The MIFF founders are Omen Ortiz, chairman; Ebradu Udarbe, president; Lisa Lew, executive producer; Ruben Nepales and Janet Nepales, media relations consultants; and Celia Abaya Dy, ticketing manager. Also on the MIFF team are Leo Dela Cruz, chief financial officer; Erickson Ilog, chief operations officer; Ron Ramores, chief marketing officer; and Cindy Sison, consultant.
For MIFF launch and festival sponsorship inquiries, contact Erickson Ilog ([email protected]) and Ron Ramores ([email protected]).
