The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023 released the official entries for this year’s edition of the annual film festival.
From the traditional 8-entry line-up, the selection committee decided to expand to a 10-entry line-up after the films that ranked 4,5,6 came to be a three-way tie.
From the 30-submitted films, MMFF announced the official final entries for the 49th edition of the annual MMFF, which include, among others:
1. GomBurZa. A film by Pepe Diokno and produced by Jesuit Communications Foundations, Inc. depicts the heroism and battles over martyrdom for the love of country of the three priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora.
2. Broken Heart’s Trip. Top-billed by Christian Bables and directed by Lemuel C. Lorca It is a drama-comedy that challenges five different LGBT individuals in a reality competition dubbed "The Broken Heart’s Trip”, Thus, contestants are in the dilemma of choosing between money and love.
3. Firefly. A film by Zig Dulay tells the heartfelt story of a terminally ill mother and son that circles on a “fairytale adventure” towards the mythical island of the fireflies. It teaches us about the discovery that “love makes you brave”.
4. Mallari. Second of Piolo Pascual’s movies in the 2023 edition of MMFF (Piolo Pascual also played the role of Padre Pedro Pelaez, Parde Burgoss’ mentor). Directed by Derick Cabrido, the film is inspired by the true story of Fr. Juan Severino Mallari, the priest who became the first and only recorded Filipino serial killer, killed 57 people.
5. Becky and Badette. Directed by Jun Robles Lana and top-billed by comedians Eugine Domingo and Pokwang. The story entails two high school best friends who never lose hope of becoming well-known celebrities. After fabricating lies about themselves during their high school reunions, the two found themselves competing over the same love interest.
6. When I met you in Tokyo. Directed by Conrado Peru, Rommel Peneza, and Christopher De Leon. The film, top-billed by the veteran artists Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon, circles the story of two OFWs. One with a challenging past marriage and the other with a debilitating disease that challenged their unconditional love once more.
In July this year, MMFF released the initial four entries, including: A Mother and Son’s Story, starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards; (K)ampon, starring Beauty Gonzales and Derek Ramsay; Penduko, starring Matteo Guidicelli and Cristine Reyes, and Rewind, starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes.
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