MMFF 2025’s first 4 films promise horror, laughter and star power

 

Headlining the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival’s initial line-up of entries are major and fast-rising stars, including (clockwise, from top left) Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Gerald Anderson, Piolo Pascual, FranSeth, Fyang Smith, Ivana Alawi and Dustin Yu.

Lyka Nicart - The Philippine Star 

July 10, 2025 | 12:00am

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 has officially kicked off with the announcement of its first four official entries during the grand launch of the filmfest’s 51st edition with the theme, “A New Era for Philippine Cinema.”

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and MMFF concurrent chairman, lawyer Don Artes, the strong public support during the MMFF’s golden jubilee last year set a high standard for this year’s edition. The MMFF executive committee now hopes to keep that momentum going.

“We promise an even more exciting and engaging experience for the filmmakers and moviegoers alike for the 51st edition of the MMFF. With the first batch of entries revealed, get ready for an exciting cinematic journey in December,” said Artes during the event held at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center, Makati City, on Tuesday afternoon.

For the MMFF’s 51st year, a total of 23 submissions were received, resulting in a competitive and challenging selection process.

“The MMFF’s call for entries, which yielded a large number of submissions, was overwhelming. The MMFF is committed to providing a platform for local filmmakers to connect with the audience. MMFF 51 is a new era for Philippine cinema,” said Artes.

The MMFF’s selection committee, headed by Boots Anson-Rodrigo, selected the first batch of entries from the script submissions, according to the following criteria: artistic excellence, commercial appeal, Filipino cultural sensibility and global appeal. Headlining the initial lineup are major stars, fueling excitement for what’s to come this year.

This includes “Call Me Mother,” set to be topbilled by Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre, and produced by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., The IdeaFirst Company and Viva Communications, Inc. Director is Jun Robles Lana, who also wrote the script with Daisy Cayanan and Daniel Saniana.

Another entry is “Rekonek,” a production by Reality MM Studios under the direction of Jade Castro. Scriptwriters are Jericho Aguado, Leovic Arceta and Kat Naval.

The film’s cast is led by Carmina Villaroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson and Zoren Legaspi.

“Manila’s Finest,” headlined by MMFF regular Piolo Pascual, is Cignal TV, Inc.’s entry for this year with Rae Red serving as a director. The script is written by Michiko Yamamoto, Moira Lang, Sherad Anthony Sanchez

Rounding up the list is the latest installment in the enduring horror franchise of Regal Entertainment, “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins.” As the tradition, the film features three directors for the anthology film, namely Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman and Ian Loreños.

Scriptwriters are Alex Castor, Onay Sales and Gina Marissa Tagasa. Lead actors are Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, Loisa Andalio, Ashley Ortega, Ysabel Ortega, Elijah Alejo, Carla Abellana, Marilyn Reynes, Janice de Belen, Kaila Estrada, Richard Gutierrez, Ryan Bang, JM Ibarra, Dustin Yu and the FranSeth loveteam (Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin).

These first four entries will form part of the official eight entries to the 51st MMFF to be shown in cinemas nationwide beginning on Dec. 25, Christmas Day.

The annual MMFF is organized by the MMDA and held during the Christmas season to support and celebrate Filipino films.

Proceeds from the MMFF go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry, such as the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

Meanwhile, the grand launch was graced by Kapamilya Big 4 housemates Brent Manalo, River Joseph, Esnyr Ranollo and Ralph De Leon from the “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition.”

The remaining four entries will be selected from finished film submissions with a deadline of Sept. 15. These will be unveiled on Sept. 30.

Other MMFF 2025 activities to watch out for are the MMFF 2025 media conference, Oct. 30; celebrity golf tournament, Nov. 12; Parade of the Stars, Dec. 19; nationwide showing of official entries, Dec. 25; and Gabi ng Parangal on Dec. 27.

TZY celebrates ‘2000th day’ since debut with Filipino fans

 

Yeji, Ryujin, Chaeryong, and Yuna, sans Lia, of the South Korean girl group ITZY have recently returned to the country for a remarkable one-night show presented by JYP Entertainment and Live Nation Philippines. It coincides with the celebration of the 2,000th day since their debut. They have proven that they’re born to devour the concert stage with their second world tour, ‘Born To Be,’ in Manila at the Araneta Coliseum.

Lyka Nicart - The Philippine Star 

August 8, 2024 | 12:00am

Members Yeji, Ryujin, Chaeryong, and Yuna, sans Lia, returned to the country for a one-night show presented by JYP Entertainment and Live Nation Philippines, which coincided with the celebration of the 2000th day since their debut.

Lia has been on hiatus since September of last year due to health concerns. She is set to rejoin her fellow members in the second half of the year for the group’s new album.

A day prior to their Manila concert, Yeji, Chaeryong, and Yuna hooked the excitement of fans, also known as MIDZY, during the press event at the Glorietta Activity Center.

The crowd’s lively cheers at the press event had the girls recalling the first time they visited Manila for their “Checkmate” tour and how the warm reception gets them every time they return to the country.

“I think it’s an honor to meet our Manila MIDZY again… I can still remember a lot of energy that you’re giving to us during our ‘Checkmate’ world tour,” said the group leader Yeji.

The group's more than 20-song set list features hits and fan favorites.

“Whenever we come here, the passionate love that we have for MIDZY and also MIDZY to us, I guess that’s one of the things that we can relate to,” Yuna said, expressing their love for their Filipino fans.

Looking back on their first-ever world tour, “Checkmate,” the group related having learned “a lot” from the previous tour and highlighted their improvements since then for an even better concert experience for their fans this time.

“One of the differences that we can tell you, guys, is we have the band arrangements where you guys can actually enjoy more from our concert of this kind,” Chaeryeong said through an interpreter.

Ryujin also added, “We always talk about confidence, self-love and energy, so I think ‘Born To Be’ is a little more developed from then and is showing more strong vibe with a strong performance.”

True enough, the quartet made an enthralling opening performance accompanied by a live band as they set the stage on fire with an electrifying medley of Born To Be, Racer, and Kidding Me.

The girls take a selfie with their Filipino fans, also known as MIDZY.

ITZY’s heart-thumping choreography, dance breaks, and vocals laid bare their charisma and stage presence, making the fans go “LOCO” in a cycle of ear-deafening screams and displays of adoration throughout the show.

Their more than 20-song setlist featured their hits and fan favorites such as Not Shy, Wannabe, and Cake, as well as their solo tracks Chaeryeong (Mine), Ryujin (Run Away), Yuna (Yet, but), Yeji (Crown On My Head), from their Born To Be album that put a spotlight on their individual charms.

In between explosive performances, the girls also elated Filipino fans with a surprise dance cover of P-pop girl group sensation BINI’s viral hit Pantropiko, on stage. They even joined the BINI phenomenon with the members, mostly Chaeryeong, randomly uttering Bini member Sheena’s viral “eyyy” expression that goes with a “Y” hand sign.

BINI Mikha, a MIDZY herself, raved over ITZY’s cover of their song, writing “BEHHHHHHHH GOOOOOO,” in an X post.

ITZY also delighted Pinoy MIDZY with their Tagalog phrases “Sobrang nag-enjoy ako,” “Sabay tayo kumanta,” encouraging fans to sing along with them, and not to mention introducing themselves in the Filipino language.

Nearing the end of the show which lasted for nearly three hours, the members got emotional after watching a fanmade video surprise from Filo MIDZY that featured their throwback clips of their trainee days until becoming idols.

The group’s maknae, Yuna, started off congratulating fellow members and their fanbase, to mark their 2,000 days in the industry, as she reflected on having less time to work on herself during those period.

“There were days when I could not sleep, I could not rest and I could not even eat,” related the ITZY member.

But despite those challenges, Yuna is delighted to have shared the past years with their fans. She said, “The brightest smile I actually had is when I’m actually in front of MIDZY,” drawing cheers from the crowd.

Chaeryeong, meanwhile, expressed her gratitude to their fans’ unwavering support, which has fueled them to always do better: “Thank you so much for always cheering for us and also staying by our side.”

She also noted how she was pleased to see each and everyone’s faces and have fun on stage, saying it was a night she will truly cherish.

“Tonight will be an unforgettable night for me. Our Manila MIDZY, they never disappoint us,” she added, stressing that their Filo fans’ “passion, love, and cheers, are always off the roof,” sweetly ending her message with the words, “Mahal kita,” and “Salamat po.”

Ryujin, meanwhile, recalled how even their parents, who came to the the country to watch their first Manila concert over a year ago, were amazed by the Filipino fans’ energy.

“Whenever we come to Manila, we always look forward to you, guys, because you’re so enthusiastic, so I really looked forward to today, and it was perfect. Thank you,” Ryujin said in English.

Yeji, on the other hand, remarked, “Manila MIDZY are the best. While performing on stage, we really had fun and felt happy tonight because of you.”

“MIDZY always tells ITZY, ‘Thank you for always being there for us,’ but I wanna say back the words to you, guys. We actually thank you very much for always waiting for us and being there for us,” Yeji further addressed their Filipino fans.

As announced in a YouTube livestream commemorating their fanbase’s fifth anniversary last July, ITZY will release an upcoming album by the second half of the year with Lia rejoining the group after a health-related hiatus.

BINI eyes global stage

The girls of Bini are launched as the new endorsers of fast food giant Jollibee during the event, ‘Cheesy Yumburger Best Fest,’ at Trinoma. The eight-member group — composed of Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Gwen, Maloi, Mikha, Sheena, and Stacey — have also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to their fans, also called Blooms, whose strong support has been instrumental in their three-year journey to becoming the leading P-pop girl group.

Photos by Anthony Abad

Lyka Nicart - The Philippine Star 

June 24, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — BINI is more proud than pressured to represent Original Pilipino Music (OPM) on a global stage.

The eight-member girl group — composed of Jhoanna, Aiah, Colet, Gwen, Maloi, Mikha, Sheena, and Stacey — recently expressed their heartfelt gratitude to their fans, also called Blooms, whose strong support has been instrumental in their three-year journey to becoming the leading P-pop girl group.

Debuting in June 2021 after two years of training under ABS-CBN’s Star Hunt Academy, they have since been dubbed by fans as the “Nation’s Girl Group.” They would become a nationwide success after releasing Pantropiko in November 2023. The song went viral and launched a dance craze on TikTok and other social media platforms.  

By March this year, they were recognized as the first Filipino pop group with the most monthly listeners on Spotfiy and the first to top the Billboard Philippine Songs chart.

Early this month, they scored a more impressive Spotify record after becoming the first Filipino act to break into the Global Top Artist chart at the 193rd spot. They currently enjoy 6.8 million monthly listeners. 

Besides Pantropiko, their other hits are Karera, Salamin, Salamin and Lagi.

“We just want to say thank you so much to our Blooms and to everyone supporting our songs. We couldn’t have gotten here if it weren’t for you guys,” said Mikha. “And to be representing OPM, it’s such an honor. We promise we will not disappoint and we will continue to take OPM into the international scene.”

Mikha also said that they intend to handle the pressure positively, using it to get better. “We make sure that the pressure doesn’t get to us, but we use it in a way where in we’re able to improve,” she added. 

Gwen, another member, stressed that they’ve always tried to incorporate Pinoy culture into their music and performances. To recall, their pre-debut song was their dance version of the Smokey Mountain hit Da Coconut Nut.  

“From the beginning, we always try to show Philippine culture in our songs, performances, and style,” Gwen said.

She is happy that their efforts are being noticed, which helps Filipino talent get more recognition.

“We’re very happy na ngayon nare-recognize na siya. And if naka-contribute na po kami ‘dun, we’re thankful kasi mas lumalawak na po ‘yung naabot ng Filipino talent.”

BINI got to share their thoughts on OPM representation internationally when they were launched as the latest brand ambassadors of the homegrown but global fast food chain Jollibee.

They were officially introduced as the new faces of the brand’s Double Cheesy Yumburger last June 17 at the TriNoma Mall Activity Center in Quezon City. During the event dubbed as “Cheesy Yumburger Best Fest,” attendees and guests got a first look at BINI’s 47-second music video commercial for the fast food brand, which reworked and featured the group’s viral hit Pantropiko.

“It’s about feeling good, having fun, and enjoying the moment, which is what our music is all about, too,” said Jhoanna of their new endorsement project. 

For BINI, teaming up with a proudly Filipino brand feels like a dream.

“It’s a brand that’s just as much fun and as vibrant as we are. Also, being a proud Filipina group, we’re so happy that we get to be part of the Jollibee fam,” Jhoanna also said.

Meanwhile, BINI enthralled fans with live performances of Salamin, Salamin and Karera during the Best Fest event hosted by Robi Domingo.

The girls, sans Aiah, also interacted with fans in a mini dance-off on stage, highlighting the key choreography from BINI’s TV commercial.

Blooms are in for exciting treats as the latest collaboration — a fusion of food, fun, and fandom — is set to bring “plenty of surprises” such as special appearances and exclusive content.

BINI is set to hold their first solo three-day concert, titled “BINIVerse,” at the New Frontier in Quezon City on June 28, 29, and 30. Tickets are already sold out.