The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee (EXECOM) are set to celebrate the 50th edition of the festival in December.
Manila will host the event, as it is where the MMFF was first shown.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan expressed her gratitude to the agency and the EXECOM for choosing the city to host this year’s film festival. She said the city government is fully supportive and excited about hosting the 50th edition of MMFF.
This year, the selection committee will choose eight official entries under four script entries and four official finished entries. However, the committee may allow the addition of more film entries if there are more quality films submitted.
Aside from the official film entries, the MMFF will also hold a Student Short Film Caravan to give students an opportunity to showcase their talents in filmmaking.
“Since the pandemic, we are excited to bring back the MMFF Student Film Festival where Filipino students aged 15 to 19 years old (are encouraged) to submit their short films and selected short films shall be shown before the screening of the official film entries,” said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.
The committee will select eight short films to be shown before the start of the official film entries in cinemas across the country. Selected students will also have a chance to study abroad to learn more about filmmaking.
The MMFF Festival of Calendar and Guidelines are as follows:
- Deadline for the submission of the letter of intent: May 15
- Submission of scripts and other required documents: June 14
- Submission of finished film festival based on script submission: September 30
- Parade of Stars: December 15 (to be hosted by Manila)
- Showing of official film entries: December 25, 2024, to January 7, 2025
- Awards Night: December 27
To celebrate the 50th edition of the MMFF, the committee is planning to have “SineSingkwenta,” where old MMFF film entries will be shown in selected cinemas for only P50.