First five entries for MMFF 2024 unveiled

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday the first five of 10 entries for the 50th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMMF) in December.

Box-office star Vice Ganda will return to the annual festival, teaming up with comedian Eugene Domingo in “And the Breadwinner Is.” Vice’s last MMFF film was “Partners in Crime” in 2022.

Also making an MMFF comeback is veteran host Vic Sotto, as he stars with Piolo Pascual in the action family drama “The Kingdom.”

Jane de Leon and Enrique Gil will join forces for the first time in the horror entry “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital.”

Other entries are “Green Bones” starring Dennis Trillo, and “Himala: Isang Musical” led by OPM singers Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalente.

Organizers said the initial entries were selected based on the 39 scripts submitted to the MMFF.

In his speech, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes expressed his gratitude to film festival supporters through the years.

“Ang MMFF ay singkwentang taon ng tradisyon na naghahatid ng kagalakan, libangan, at pagpapayaman ng kultura sa mga Pilipino lalo na kapaskuhan,” said Artes.

[Translation: MMFF is a 50-year tradition that brings joy and entertainment, and cultivates Filipino culture especially during Christmas].

In 2023, the film fest chalked up P1.2 billion in box office sales. Last year’s entry, “Rewind,” starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, was hailed as the highest grossing Filipino film of all time.