Just when you thought they wanted to shake things up, this happens.
“Supporters of the indie film movement rejoiced when franchise flicks were eased out of the lineup of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, which opens on Christmas Day,” observed By: Bayani San Diego Jr. in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Here are the eight official entries in this year’s MMFF:
1. DIE BEAUTIFUL (directed by Jun Robles Lana, starring Paolo Ballesteros)
2. KABISERA (directed by Real Florido, starring Nora Aunor and Ricky Davao)
3. SAVING SALLY (directed by Avid Liongoren, starring Rhian Ramos and Enzo Marcos)
4. SEKLUSYON (directed by Erik Matti, starring Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, and Dominique Roque)
5. SUNDAY BEAUTY QUEEN (directed by Babyruth Villarama, starring Hazel Perdid, Maylyn Jocob, and Cherry Bretania)
6. ORO (directed by Alvin Yapan, starring Irma Adlawan and Mercedes Cabral)
7. VINCE & KATH & JAMES (directed by Theodore Boborol, starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, and Ronnie Alonte)
8. ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK 2 (directed by Marlon Rivera, starring Eugene Domingo)
However, as the report indicated, the jubilation was cut short
when “it was announced that this year’s fest will run for only 10 days, four days shorter than the schedule that has been followed for years.”
The report noted: “At presstime, the MMFF’s last day was set on Jan. 3, 2017, as confirmed by two executive committee members, Boots Anson-Roa and Moira Lang.”
Apparently, “a 10-day run was the original time frame specified in the fest’s regulations.” The theaters just grant an extension.
Director Joel Lamangan, who directed some of the biggest box office hits in past installments of the MMFF, summed up everyone’s concern about the shortened run: “I think 10 days are too short. How can we maximize the exposure of Filipino films to a much wider audience if the run is limited?”
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