2023 Metro Manila Film Festival

The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 49th edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival. During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters (excluding IMAX and 4D theaters).[b]

2023 Metro Manila Film Festival
49th Metro Manila Film Festival
No. of films10
Festival dateDecember 25, 2023 (2023-12-25) to January 14, 2024 (2024-01-14)[a]
MMFF chronology

Entries

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Feature films

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The first four official entries were announced in July 2023, selected from 26 scripts submitted by 32 production companies.[2][3]

The festival's selection committee usually chooses eight entries in total, but in October 2023 a second batch of seven entries were announced, for a total of ten. After the fourth, fifth, and sixth highest-rated submissions all received the same score, 93.3%, the committee decided not to break the tie, according to its chairman, Jesse Ejercito.[4] There were 30 finished films submitted, the highest number to date.[5]

Most entries were given the Parental Guidance rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Penduko and the Family of Two were deemed fitted for a general audience while the film festival's two horror films Kampon and Mallari where given the R-13 rating.[6]

Title Starring Production company Director Genre
First batch
Family of Two Sharon Cuneta, Alden Richards Cineko Productions Inc., Myriad Entertainment Nuel Naval Drama, Family
Kampon Beauty Gonzalez, Derek Ramsay Quantum Films, Brightlight Productions, OctoArts Films King Palisoc Horror, Thriller
Penduko Matteo Guidicelli, Kylie Verzosa Sari Sari Network Films, Viva Films, Studio Viva Jason Paul Laxamana Superhero
Rewind Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes ABS-CBN Film Productions, AgostoDos Pictures and APT Entertainment Mae Cruz-Alviar Romance, Drama
Second batch
Becky & Badette Eugene Domingo, Pokwang The IdeaFirst Company, Octoberian Films Jun Robles Lana Comedy
Broken Hearts Trip Christian Bables, Jaclyn Jose BMC Films Lemuel C. Lorca Comedy, Drama
Firefly Alessandra de Rossi, Euwenn Mikaell GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs Zig Dulay Fantasy, Drama
GomBurZa Dante Rivero, Cedrick Juan, Enchong Dee, Piolo Pascual Jesuit Communications, MQuest Ventures, CMB Film Services Pepe Diokno Historical, Biopic
Mallari Piolo Pascual, Janella Salvador Mentorque Productions Derick Cabrido Horror, Thriller
When I Met You in Tokyo Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon JG Productions Incorporated Rado Peru, Rommel Penesa Romance, Drama

Parade of Stars

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Casts of the film festival's entry films at the Parade of Stars in Navotas

The Parade of Stars took place on December 16, 2023. The annual parade passed through in four key cities of CAMANAVA area, first time in the history of the festival.[7] The parade began at the Navotas Centennial Park and ended at Valenzuela People's Park.[8] The route had a length of 8.77 kilometers (5.45 mi). The casts of all ten participating films joined the motorcade.[9]

Awards

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2023 Metro Manila Film Festival
Gabi ng Parangal
DateDecember 27, 2023 (2023-12-27)
SiteNew Frontier Theater, Quezon City
Hosted byGiselle Sanchez and Eisel Serrano
Highlights
Best PictureFirefly
Best DirectorPepe Diokno
(GomBurZa)
Best ActorCedrick Juan
(GomBurZa)
Best ActressVilma Santos
(When I Met You in Tokyo)
Most awardsGomBurZa (7)
Television coverage
ChannelOne PH
NetworkTV5

The Gabi ng Parangal (transl. Awards Night) of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival was held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City on December 27, 2023.[10] The ceremony was hosted by Giselle Sanchez and Eisel Serrano.[11] The program was broadcast live at One PH of Cignal TV.[12] GomBurZa received the most awards.[13]

The board of jurors who determined the winners are led by director Chito S. Roño and actress Lorna Tolentino as chairpersons.[14]

Major awards

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Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡). Nominations are also listed if applicable.[15]

For this edition, four films were given Best Picture awards due to the festival having ten official entries.[16]

Best Picture Best Director
Best Actor Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress
Best Screenplay Best Cinematography
Best Production Design Best Editing
Best Sound Best Original Theme Song
Best Musical Score Best Visual Effects
  • Gaspar Mangalin – Mallari
    • Reality MM Studios – Firefly
    • Brian Galagnara, Danilo Handog, John Kenneth Paclibar – GomBurZa
    • John Kenneth Paclibar – Kampon
    • Gerwin Meneses – Penduko
Best Child Performer Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award
Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence Best Float
Gender Sensitivity Award

Other awards

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Multiple awards

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Awards Film
7 GomBurZa
4 Mallari
When I Met You in Tokyo
3 Firefly
2 Becky & Badette

Multiple nominations

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Awards Film
16 Mallari
14 Becky & Badette
Firefly
12 GomBurZa
11 When I Met You in Tokyo
9 Kampon
Rewind
7 Family of Two
4 Penduko

Box office

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The combined box office gross for the films of the festival had surpassed ₱700 million by January 2, 2024,[17] and ₱1 billion five days later.[18] Rewind reportedly is the top earning film. The next three are Mallari, GomBurZa, and Firefly.[19]

Misinformation

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There was a post by the Facebook page Pinoy History which circulated online which showed the supposed box office gross figures for each of the film entries for the opening day of the film festival. Pinoy History has 1.3 million followers on Facebook.[20][21] The post claimed that Rewind earned ₱110 million even though no film in Philippine cinema history has earned ₱100 million on its premiere date alone.[22] The MMDA has disavowed the figures calling it "fake news" and the administrator who made the post was removed from the Pinoy History's managing staff.[22]

Other events

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MMMF Auditorium inauguration

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On December 14, 2023, the 152-seater MMFF Auditorium located at the MMDA Building in Pasig was inaugurated.[23]

2024 Manila International Film Festival

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2024 Manila International Film Festival
Date (2024-01-29) (2024-02-02)January 29 – February 2, 2024 (Festival dates)
February 2, 2024 (2024-02-02) (Award Gala)
SiteDirectors Guild of America, Los Angeles, U.S. (Award Gala)
Highlights
Best PictureFirefly
Best DirectorZig Dulay
(Firefly)
Best ActorPiolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes
(Mallari and Rewind)
Best ActressVilma Santos
(When I Met You in Tokyo)
Most awardsFirefly (4)

The inaugural edition of the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) took place in the United States from January 29 to February 2, 2024 and will feature the entry films of the 2023 MMFF. The MIFF took place at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles and the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard.[17]

Awards

The Award Gala was held at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles on February 2, 2024.[24][25]

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Festival was originally scheduled to end on January 7, 2024, but was given a one-week extension due to extreme demand and the gross receipts exceeded 1 billion.
  2. ^ Includes Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom[1] and Wonka[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ del Rosario, Pauline (December 23, 2023). "'Aquaman' makikipagsabayan sa MMFF 2023, showing sa mga piling sinehan" ['Aquaman' screens in tandem with the MMFF 2023, showing in select cinemas"]. Bandera (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "MMFF 2023 announces first 4 official entries". The Philippine Star. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "LOOK: MMFF announces first 4 official entries for 2023 edition". Rappler. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "MMFF expands lineup to 11, announces 7 new entries". ABS-CBN News. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "MMFF 2023: Seven remaining official entries announced; Vilma-Boyet, Piolo, Eugene-Pokwang starrers make the cut". PEP.ph. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Godinez, Bong (December 17, 2023). "MTRCB reveals rating guide for MMFF film entries". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "MMFF Parade of Stars 2023 makes string of 'firsts'". ABS-CBN News. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Evangelista, Jessica Ann (December 17, 2023). "Parade of Stars: Highlights of MMFF 2023 motorcade". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "MMFF's Parade of Stars to pass through 4 cities". ABS-CBN News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Asis, Salve (December 17, 2023). "Parade of Stars, nakabalik na sa normal" [Parade of Stars, back to normal]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Gabinete, Jojo (December 27, 2023). "Indie actor Cedrick Juan beats sina Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, and Alden Richards" [Indie actor Cedrick Juan tinalo sina Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes, at Alden Richards]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  12. ^ PEP Troika (December 27, 2023). "MMFF entry Rewind, doble ang kita sa second day--source" [MMFF entry Rewind, earnings doubled on the second day--source]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  13. ^ "'GomBurZa' is 49th MMFF's most decorated film". Manila Standard. December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Santiago, Erwin (December 27, 2023). "Director Chito Roño, actress Lorna Tolentino lead MMFF 2023 Board of Jurors". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Siazon, Rachelle (December 27, 2023). "Vilma Santos, Cedrick Juan, Firefly, Gomburza win big at MMFF 2023 Gabi Ng Parangal". pep.ph. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  16. ^ PEP Troika (December 28, 2023). "Explainer: Ang detalyadong proseso ng MMFF 2023 jury sa pagpili ng winners" [Explainer: The detailed process of the MMFF 2023 jury in choosing winners winners]. PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Tomada, Nathalie (January 5, 2024). "MMFF 2023 breaks 2022 box-office record, gears up for US edition". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  18. ^ Felipe, MJ (January 7, 2024). "MMFF 2023 gross receipts now at P1-billion". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Ramos, Neil (January 5, 2024). "49th MMFF marks box office triumph". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Malasig, Jeline (December 27, 2023). "Vlog page admin fired for posting fake MMFF 2023 Christmas ticket sales". Interaksyon. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (December 27, 2023). "MMDA calls out fake MMFF 2023 first day earnings; Facebook admin fired". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "MMDA debunks fake news regarding MMFF 2023 ticket sales". GMA News. December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  23. ^ Zurbano, Joel (December 15, 2023). "MMDA chief sees new records for this year's MMFF". Manila Standard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "2024 Manila International Film Festival Award Gala". Manila International Film Festival. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "Here are the winners of the 2024 Manila International Film Festival's awards night". Rappler. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
Preceded by Metro Manila Film Festival
2023
Succeeded by
2024 Metro Manila Film Festival