We’re just three days away from Christmas, and in the Philippines, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the highly anticipated film event: the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
This tradition has become a staple for every Filipino family and has captivated local cinemagoers for decades.
Starting on Dec. 25 and running until the first week of January, films by both new and experienced Filipino filmmakers hit the big screens to celebrate the creativity and talent of Philippine cinema.
Marking its 50th-year milestone, the festival adopts the theme “Sinesigla sa Singkwenta” and features 10 competing films—an increase from the usual eight entries — a good mix of genres, spanning romance, comedy, fantasy, drama, horror, and action — all vying for accolades during the festival’s Gabi ng Parangal on Dec. 27 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.
As cinephiles and casual viewers flock to cinemas this December, here’s a closer look at the diverse entries that make up MMFF 2024.
And the Breadwinner Is…
Starring comedian and TV host Vice Ganda together with an ensemble cast, family comedy drama film And the Breadwinner Is… follows the story of breadwinner Bambi Salvador who works as an OFW in Taiwan and returns back home to find that the house she paid for had been left dilapidated by her family. Taking on a more dramatic tone compared to Vice Ganda’s immensely comedic entries in the previous MMFF editions, And the Breadwinner Is… serves as a tribute to breadwinners who solely take care of their families, often at the cost of their own dreams.
Espantaho
Marking the return of renowned actress Judy Ann Santos to the horror genre, Espantaho is a horror drama film about a woman named Monet who grieves for her father’s death only to find a series of disasters and tragedy follow the local tradition of mourning, leaving many dark secrets of her family to come about. The film features a star-studded cast composed of Santos, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Eugene Domingo, Janice de Belen, Tommy Abuel, Chanda Romero, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, Kian Co, and Archi Adamos.
Green Bones
Award-winning filmmaker Zig Dulay returns to the film festival with Green Bones which stars Dennis Trillo as a criminal named Domingo Zamora who was arrested for the murder of his sister and niece. Starring alongside him is Ruru Madrid who plays a newly-assigned prison guard named Xavier Gonzaga that is determined to keep Zamora behind bars no matter what. With Green Bones serving as Madrid’s first lead role in a feature film, other members of the cast include Iza Calzado, Alessandra De Rossi, Kylie Padilla, Sofia Pablo, Michael de Mesa, and many others.
Hold Me Close
Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana and starring Julia Barretto alongside Carlo Aquino, Hold Me Close is a romantic fantasy film which follows a man named Woody who travels around the world to look for a place where he could settle down. As his search takes him to Japan, he meets a woman named Lynlyn, who has the ability to determine if a person would bring her happiness or harm by simply touching them.
Isang Himala
Serving as a film adaptation of the 2003 musical of the same name, which was then based on the 1982 film by the late National Artist Ishmael Bernal’s Himala, Isang Himala stars Aicelle Santos as Elsa, a young woman turned faith healer following a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who begins to heal the residents of the small town of Cupang, drawing the attention of people from distant places, either to witness and experience her miracle or capitalize on it.
My Future You
Love and family take center stage in Regal Entertainment’s official entry to this year’s MMFF, My Future You. Starring on-screen partner Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, collectively known as FranSeth, the film delivers a heartwarming blend of romance and drama with a sci-fi twist, captivating audiences through a unique storyline that defies the boundaries of time. The movie also explores the complexities of human connections and the ripple effects of altering the past. At its core is the story of Lex played by Seth, a young man in 2009 who stumbles upon a mysterious dating app that links him to Francine’s character, Karen, a woman living in 2024.
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
Inspired by the South Korean hit Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital is said to be an “unscripted” horror film told in meta and presented in a found footage filmmaking approach. It follows a group of amateur ghost hunters, led by Enrique Gil, unravelling the mysteries of a haunted medical facility. The film features an ensemble cast, including Jane de Leon, Alexa Miro, Rob Gomez, beauty queen MJ Lastimosa, tarot reader Raf Pineda, and content creator Ryan “Zarckaroo” Azurin.
The Kingdom
Epic and ambitious, The Kingdom is an action-adventure drama set in the fictional Kingdom of Kalayaan—a reimagined version of the Philippines where the islands were never colonized. The film delves into the intricate hierarchy of the Kaharian ng Kalayaan and the Malayas, presenting a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on Philippine history, culture, and society. Starring an ensemble cast led by Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual, The Kingdom is directed by Mike Tuviera.
Topakk
More than just an action-thriller movie, Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes-starrer Topakk pushes boundaries in storytelling, putting the spotlight on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Directed by Richard Somes, the film transcends the conventions of the action-drama genre, serving as both a powerful reflection and an urgent call to awareness about the often misunderstood mental health condition.
Uninvited
Closing the lineup is the star-studded thriller film led by Vilma Santos, who plays Lilia, a grieving mother determined to avenge the murder of her daughter. To uncover the truth and confront the billionaire responsible, Lilia infiltrates an exclusive circle of elites, disguising with the identity of Eva to carry out her plan for revenge. Uninvited also stars Aga Muhlach, Nadine Lustre, Tirso Cruz III, Gabby Padilla, Elijah Canlas, and more of the supporting cast.
