MMFF goes online this year with 10 finalists
The show must go on for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). In a press conference earlier today, November 24, the agency announced that it is pushing through with the Metro Manila Film Festival online.
The festival will start streaming on its usual launch date of December 25 and end on January 7. Tickets can be purchased for P250 on Globe's GMovies mobile app, and the films will be streamed via Upstream.
The initiative to go digital has enabled MMDA to cut costs in theater rentals and also enlist as many as ten finalists in this year's festival instead of the usual eight-film lineup.
The list includes Brightlight's Magikland, which is the only entry among the four finalists MMDA announced in July that made it to December's festival. Most of the entries, on the other hand, came from the proposed MMFF Summer edition that was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Here are the 2020 MMFF top ten finalists:
- Magikland: Adventure-fantasy directed by Christian Acuña, starring Miggs Cuaderno, Elijah Aleto, Joshua Eugenio, and Princess Aliyah Rabara.
- Coming Home: Drama directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr., starring Jinggoy Estrada, Sylvia Sanchez, Martin Del Rosario, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Vin Abrenica.
- The Missing: Horror directed by Easy Ferrer, starring Ritz Azul, Joseph Marco, and Miles Ocampo.
- Tagpuan: Romance-drama directed by Mac Alejandre, starring Alfred Vargas, Iza Calzado, and Shaina Magdayao.
- Isa Pang Bahaghari: Drama directed by Joel Lamangan, starring Superstar Nora Aunor, Phillip Salvador, Michael De Mesa, Zanjoe Marrudo, Joseph Marco, and Sanya Lopez.
- Suarez, The Healing Priest: Drama directed by Joven Tan, starring John Arcilla, with Alice Dixson, Rosanna Roces, and Rita Avila.
- Mang Kepweng, Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim: Comedy adventure directed by Topel Lee, starring Vhong Navarro, Benjie Paras, Ritz Azul, Ryan Bang, and Ion Perez.
- Pak Boys: Comedy directed by Al Tantay, starring Andrew E, Janno Gibbs, Jerald Napoles, and Dennis Padilla.
- The Boy Foretold by the Stars: Boys' love and rom-com directed by Dolly Dulu, starring Adrian Lindayag and Keann Johnson.
- Fan Girl: Coming-of-age story directed by Antoinette Jadaone, starring Charlie Dizon and Paulo Avelino.
Additionally, the MMFF Parade of Stars and Awards Night will be done virtually, though details have yet to be announced.
Images from MMFF.