by Robert Requintina
Following the success of the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Monday, Jan. 9, that it will hold the first Metro Manila Summer Festival (MMSF) this year.
Atty. Romando Artes, MMDA and MMFF Over-all Chairman said the inaugural film fest will kick off in partnership with Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP).
The MMSF will run for an 11-day period, from April 8 (Black Saturday) to April 18, in cinemas nationwide.
The Parade of Stars for the MMFF Summer Edition will be held on April 1, while the Awards Night will take place on April 11.
Award-winning actress Laurice Guillen, who head the 2022 MMFF jury, said that this is the best time to launch a summer film festival.
“As mentioned earlier, two years ago pa dapat ito ginawa pero inabutan nga ng pandemic. But we fell that the people are ready to go back to the theaters now as proven by the success of the MMFF 2022. Yung summer festival is the time na naka-break talaga and halos lahat ng kabataan nasa bakasyon. So it’s really a time for celebration. At the same time walang ibang foreign films na kalaban. So we really need to jumpstart again our local movies. Kailangan natin ang mga ganun para bumalik sa dating sigla ang film industry.”
(As mentioned earlier, it should have been done two years ago but the pandemic overtook it. But we felt that the people are ready to go back to the theaters now as proven by the success of the MMFF 2022. The summer festival is the time when almost all the young people are on vacation. So it’s really a time for celebration. Also, there are no other foreign films to compete with. So we really need to jumpstart again our local movies. We need those to return to the film industry that used to be vibrant.)
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On some sectors that questioned the results of the MMFF 2022 Gabi ng Parangral, Guillen said: “Iba-iba ang perspective ng the jury. Pero kahit na galing kami sa iba’t ibang perspective, meron naman kaming napagkasunduan. I can say that then choices were collegial. Hindi lahat ng choices ko ang nanalo. We had a general agreement after discussions. So based on that, any of those films could have won. Lahat ng jurors nag-attend ng deliberations and then bawa’t isa nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na sabihin kung ano ang tingin niya sa pelikula.”
(The perspective of the jury was different. But even though we came from different perspectives, we agreed on something. I can say that the choices were collegial. Not all of my choices won. We had a general agreement after discussions. So based on that, any of those films could have won. All the jurors attended the deliberations and then everyone had a chance to say what they thought of the film.)
Artes also said that films which failed to enter the top 8 of the 2022 MMFF may still qualify for the summer film fest.
The schedule of activities for the MMFF Summer Edition:
Deadline for submission of finished film and other required documents – Not later than 5 pm of Jan. 31, 2023 (early bird) and Feb. 17, 2023 (Friday).
Screening of the Selection Committee – Feb. 17-23, 2023
Announcement of the eight official entries – Feb. 24, 2023 (Friday)
For official entries:
Submission of P300,000 bond and official trailer – March 16, 2023 (Thursday)
Submission of certificate from cinema that the required movie trailers have been submitted – March 16, 2023 (Thursday)
Board of jurors screening of the finished products – March 17-24, 2023
Submission of certification that DCP films for theaters are available – April 3, 2023 (Monday)
Parade of Stars – April 1, 2023 (Saturday)
Showing of official entries in all MM theaters and participating provincial theaters – April 8 (Black Saturday – 18 (Tuesday) 2023
Awards Night – April 11, 2023 (Tuesday)
* Success
Also, the MMFF officially announced that it has reached its P500-million target gross sales.
“We are delighted to announce that we were able to reach our target gross sales amounting to ₱500-million considering that we are still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, the 2022 MMFF is a certified box-office hit,” said Artes, during a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
With the theme “Balik Saya,” all the eight films were shown in cinemas nationwide from Dec. 25, 2022 up to January 7, 2023, and now being extended until Jan. 13, 2023.
Artes also mentioned the Top 4 MMFF 2022 official entries, based on the gross sales receipts, in alphabetical order, which are the following: Deleter, Family Matters, Labyu with an Accent, and Partners in Crime.
“Rest assured that the MMFF will exert all efforts by encouraging our stakeholders, especially the local entertainment industry, to create quality films. I urge each and every one of you to patronize Filipino films,” Artes said.
The 2022 MMFF Parade of Stars, which featured the floats of the eight (
entries carrying the celebrities of the film festival’s official entries, was held on Dec. 21, 2022, hosted by the local government of Quezon City.
The 2022 MMFF Awards Night, which was held on Dec. 27, 2022 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City, was likewise successfully conducted.
Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo, chairman of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND), thanked the MMDA for its full support to the film institute.
“We are thankful for the MMFF which supports the MOWELFUND as one of its beneficiaries,” said Roa Rodrigo.
Artes also said that the MMFF will assist the thriller flick “Deleter” as it participates in an international festival soon. “We will support the winner of best picture in their chosen international film festival.”
“Deleter,” starring Nadine Lustre, was the big winner at the 2022 MMFF Awards Night in December, receiving seven trophies, including best picture, best actress and best director.
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