The Metro Manila Development Authority just announced the eight entries for 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, which will run from Dec 25 to Jan 7.
And we have to say, this year’s line-up is unlike anything the festival has had in recent years.
Here are the eight official entries in this year’s MMFF:
- DIE BEAUTIFUL (directed by Jun Robles Lana, starring Paolo Ballesteros)
- KABISERA (directed by Real Florido, starring Nora Aunor and Ricky Davao)
- SAVING SALLY (directed by Avid Liongoren, starring Rhian Ramos and Enzo Marcos)
- SEKLUSYON (directed by Erik Matti, starring Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, and Dominique Roque)
- SUNDAY BEAUTY QUEEN (directed by Babyruth Villarama, starring Hazel Perdid, Maylyn Jocob, and Cherry Bretania)
- ORO (directed by Alvin Yapan, starring Irma Adlawan and Mercedes Cabral)
- VINCE & KATH & JAMES (directed by Theodore Boborol, starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, and Ronnie Alonte)
- ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK 2 (directed by Marlon Rivera, starring Eugene Domingo)
Unlike previous years, the entries for this year’s MMFF were chosen based on the finished films and not just scripts. According to PEP, over 20 were submitted for consideration to be part of the 2016 MMFF.
What’s blatantly obvious in the 2016 line-up of the MMFF is the absence of the festival usual suspects.
This is the first time since the early 2000s that Vic Sotto is not part of the MMFF.
According to reports, Vic submitted Enteng Kabisote and the Abangers, the 10th installment of his Enteng Kabisote franchise, for consideration in the MMFF.
Vice Ganda, a festival mainstay since 2012, is also absent in this year’s MMFF. The comedian’s entries have consistently been the top grossers in the annual film festival.
It’ll be interesting to see how the MMFF would fare in the box office this year without its usual heavyhitters. But that does not mean it is without its fair share of possible delights for moviegoers.
See you at the movies, Coconauts!
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