As the adage goes, the show must go on.
Amid the on-going clearing operations of debris in the fire-damaged Los Angeles County in California that affected as well its Hollywood neighborhood, the 2025 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) held at the iconic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood Boulevard in LA, pushed through recently.
The 2nd MIFF scheduled last February was postponed indefinitely in deference to the unfortunate loss of property and deaths of reported 29 people caused by the wildfires but the organizers of the fest eventually jumpstarted it last March 4, 2025 with the able support from the US film communities and the Philippine contingents that were enthusiastic and just as warm not necessarily from the glowing ember remnants of the blaze but the geniality of the human spirit.
Not a few actors and actresses from the Philippines flew to the US to represent the films screened at the festival.
Most of the movies lined up for the fest came from the ten official entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) held in Manila from Christmas day, December 25 to January 7, 2025.
Piolo Pascual graced the event as rep of "The Kingdom," a MediaQuest Ventures, APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions' entry.
Lorna Tolentino and Janice de Belen embodied the powerhouse and casting coup that included Judy Ann Santos, Chanda Romero, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Nico Antonio, among others, of "Espantaho," a thriller from Quantum Films whose producer Atty. Joji Villanueva Alonso was around to give moral support to the international screening of her project.
Lawmaker-actor Arjo Atayde of the First Congressional District of Quezon City represented his action caper, Nathan Films' "Topakk" while Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz came to promote their last year's MMFF romcom movie "My Future You" from Regal Entertainment.
Enchong Dee participated for Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company's "And the Breadwinner is..."
Couple Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali, although, didn't have a movie together, were around as well to root for GMA Films' "Green Bones" ditto with Dingdong Dantes, the duo's fellow Kapuso star.
John Arcilla, Sylvia Sanchez, Boots Anson Roa, among others, were present to boost the morale of participating Filipino filmmakers and creatives.
Meanwhile, to show the support of the government to the local film industry and to maintain a pleasant, chummy connections to it, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos flew to LA to join the Philippine delegation.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chair Lala Sotto showed her encouragement and camaraderie with the Philippine film community.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #MTRCB #ManilaInternationalFilmFestival #FirstLadyLizaAraneta