The inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) recently announced the screening schedule of its films, which comprise the 10 entries of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
These films representing various genres and offering entertaining fare, starring the most exciting actors in Philippine cinema and directed by ace filmmakers, will premiere at the MIFF from January 29 to February 2 in two prestigious venues in Hollywood, the TCL Chinese Theatres and the Directors Guild of America.
MIFF moviegoers will be among the first to watch the 10 films after their nationwide debut in the Philippines through the MMFF from December 25 to January 7. The 49th MMFF was recently kicked off with its beloved Christmas tradition, the Parade of Stars which this year snaked its way from Navotas to Valenzuela.
Thousands of people cheered and applauded the floats bearing the stars of the ten MMFF entries: Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang; Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip” (Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay); Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two” (Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards); Zig Dulay’s “Firefly” (Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell); Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa” (Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan); King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon” (Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay); Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari” (Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador); Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa); Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind” (Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes); and Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo” (Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon).
With that lineup of star-studded MMFF entries, the MIFF in LA promises to be a very special one as well. Each of the ten entries will be screened three times throughout the five-day film festival in Los Angeles.
All screenings and events will be at the TCL Chinese Theatres unless otherwise indicated below. TCL Chinese Theatres is located on the third level of the Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood & Highland), 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.
On the MIFF’s closing day, the screenings will both be at the TCL Chinese Theatres and DGA, located at 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.
Filipino film lovers or movie aficionados and fans and followers of the featured stars in the entries, mark your calendars now. MIFF announced the following schedule:
Monday, January 29 – Opening day
• 3:00pm – 5:08pm
Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon
• 4:30pm- 6:16pm
Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang
• 5:55pm – 7:55pm
Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards
• 7:25pm – 9:58pm
Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador
• 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Sponsored opening night – VIP reception
• 8:35pm – 10:45pm
Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,” starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
Tuesday, January 30
• 3:00pm – 4:44pm
Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan
• 4:30pm – 6:19pm
Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa
• 5:55pm – 7:55pm
Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell
• 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Sponsored VIP lounge – Industry mixer
• 7:25pm – 9:32pm
Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay
• 8:55pm – 10:42pm
King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay
Wednesday, January 31
• 3:00pm – 4:55pm
Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,” starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
• 4:30pm – 6:16pm
Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards
• 6:00pm – 7:55pm
Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay
• 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Sponsored VIP Lounge – Industry Mixer
• 7:25pm – 9:53pm
Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon
• 8:55pm – 10:56pm
Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang
Thursday, February 1
• 3:00pm – 4:45pm
Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell
• 4:30pm – 6:02pm
King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay
• 5:45pm – 7:53pm
Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador
• 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Sponsored VIP champagne lounge (Industry mixer/After-party)
• 7:25pm – 9:29pm
Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan
• 8:50pm – 10:54pm
Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa
Friday, February 2 – Closing day
• 12:00pm – 1:45pm Directors Guild of America Theater 1
Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell
• 12:00pm – 1:49pm Directors Guild of America Theater 2
Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa
• 12:00pm – 1:32pm Directors Guild of America Theater 3
King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay
• 3:00pm – 4:55pm Directors Guild of America Theater 1
Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,” starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
• 3:00pm – 5:08pm Directors Guild of America Theater 2
Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador
• 3:00pm – 4:40pm Directors Guild of America Theater 3
Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards
• 12:00pm – 2:08 pm TCL Chinese Theatres
Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon
• 1:00pm – 2:46pm TCL Chinese Theatres
Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang
• 3:00pm – 4:47pm TCL Chinese Theatres
Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay
• 4:00pm – 5:44pm TCL Chinese Theatres
Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan
• 5:00pm – 6:00pm DGA – Closing night awards gala
Red carpet arrivals
• 6:00pm – 10:30pm DGA Grand Lobby
Closing night awards gala
Watch for announcements on how to buy early bird tickets at https://manilainternationalfilmfest.com/
MIFF was launched in glittering rites at the DGA last November. Gracing the occasion were stars and officials from the U.S. and Manila. led by Enchong Dee, Kaladkaren, Romnick Sarmenta, and Eisel Serrano, filmmakers Jun Robles Lana, Perci Intalan, and JP Habac Jr., MMFF overall chairman, Atty. Romando Artes, and Executive Director, Atty. Rochelle Ona, MIFF president Ebradu Udarbe, chairman Ortiz, and executive producer Lisa Lew.
A highlight of the launch at the DGA was 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 well-received films were Chris Martinez’s “Here Comes the Groom”; JP Habac’s “Love You Long Time”; and Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us.” The latter went on to be submitted to the 81st Golden Globe Awards.
The MIFF founders are Omen Ortiz, Ebradu Udarbe, Lisa Lew, 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; Cindy Sison, consultant; and Meriden Angeles, coordinating producer.
For MIFF sponsorship inquiries, contact Erickson Ilog ([email protected]) and Ron Ramores ([email protected]).
