Christmas brings forth many traditions for Filipinos; holiday gift-shopping, making Noche Buena with loved ones, and reuniting with family members after a year-or more-of doing your own thing. Another holiday tradition for many is watching movies from the annual Metro Manila Film Festival. Here's what you need to know about the film fest so you can tick off as many as you can on your to-watch list in an order that suits your preferences.
When is the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival?
The Metro Manila Film Festival, or MMFF, always starts on Christmas and usually ends in early January. This year, it starts on December 25 and ends on January 7, 2025, with most cinemas nationwide screening the line-up. You'd be hard-pressed to find a theater that's not showing the films, so it's just a matter of going out and getting a ticket.
Christmas usually means time at home with the family, but every date after that is a chance to catch a screening.
Here are the Films You Can Watch at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival:
And The Breadwinner Is...
Directed by: Jun Lana
Jun Lana's And The Breadwinner Is... serves as tribute to the Filipino heroes moving mountains abroad to provide for their loved in the Philippines. Overseas Filipino Worker Bambi Salvador, played by comedienne Vice Ganda, is working herself to the bone in Taiwan to send money back home for her family and the construction of her dream house. She returns to hometown Arayat, Pampanga expecting to see the fruits of her hard work, only to stand before a dilapidated house. The film's ensemble cast comprises other comedy stars Eugene Domingo, Gladys Reyes, and Jhong Hilario as Bambi's family along with Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings.
Green Bones
Directed by: Zig Dulay
Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid star in this Zig Dulay film adapted from a screenplay by Ricky Lee and Anj Atienza. Prison officer Xavier Gonzaga and prisoner Domingo Zamora mourn the death of the latter's sister, who was allegedly killed by Zamora himself. Tensions between the two rise, with one fighting for his innocence and the other refusing to let him see life outside of prison. The suspense-drama film also stars Royce Cabrera, Iza Calzado, Alessandra De Rossi, Michael de Mesa, Sofia Pablo, Kylie Padilla, Wendell Ramos, and Sienna Stevens.
Isang Himala
Directed by: Pepe Diokno
Based on a 2018 theatrical play of the same name, Isang Himala is a musical film directed by Pepe Diokno derived from a screenplay he co-wrote with original screenwriter Ricky Lee. Aicelle Santos plays Elsa, a young woman in Cupang who claimed she saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary, and Bituin Escalante stars as Aling Saling, Elsa's mother. Both starred in the 2018 play and will reprise their roles for the big screen. And yes, everything is based on the original 1982 film Isang Himala which starred Nora Aunor and was directed by Ishmael Bernal.
The Kingdom
Directed by: Michael Tuviera
The Kingdom reimagines the Philippines as an uncolonized territory. Set in modern times, this alternate universe sees Lakan Makisig (Vic Sotto) struggling to choose a worthy heir to his throne. His three children have a slew of problems that keep them from inheriting the post; Magat Bawis (Lucero) with his temper, Dayang Matimyas (Cristine Reyes) and her associations with a political enemy, and Dayang Lualhati (Sue Ramirez) whose safety is now at risk at the hands of a secessionist group. Outcast Sulo (Piolo Pascual) comes in to save the day, but he'll have to fight tooth and nail before he's crowned a hero.
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
Directed by: Kerwin Go
Horror fans, you can bet there's something in this year's line-up for you. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital is a found footage film based on the 2018 Korean film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum. The film stars Enrique Gil, Jane de Leon, Alexa Miro, MJ Lastimosa, Raf Pineda, and Ryan "Zarckaroo" Azurin as eager Filipino ghosthunters setting out to explore the Xinglin General Hospital in Tainan, which is known to be one of the most haunted places in Taiwan.
Espantaho
Directed by: Chito S. Roño
If you prefer local spooks, this film is right up your alley. Lorna Tolentino makes her return to horror 19 years after Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara. She stars alongside Judy Ann Santos in the Chito S. Roño-helmed Espantaho, or Scarecrow in English. Actors Janice de Belen, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Chanda Romero, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, Kian Co, Eugene Domingo, and Tommy Abuel round out the cast of this horror film.
Hold Me Close
Directed by: Jason Paul Laxamana
Romantic-fantasy film Hold Me Close stars Carlo Aquino as Woody, a nomad who has traveled the world for seven years just trying to find a place to settle. He winds up in Japan where he meets Julia Barretto's Lynlyn, a girl graced with the special ability to tell if a person will cause her great happiness or harm by simply touching them. The Jason Paul Laxamana film started filming in Japan in March this year, so expect snapshots of spring in the land of the rising sun.
My Future You
Directed by: Crisanto Aquino
Karen (Francine Diaz) and Lex (Seth Fedelin) meet each other on a dating app not knowing that they're living in timelines 15 years apart. The mystic powers of a comet connect them, and they must now work together to change the past to see a favorable future. The Crisanto Aquino film also stars Christian Vazquez, Almira Muhlach, Peewee O'hara, Bodjie Pascua, Mosang, and Izzy Canillo.
Topakk
Directed by: Richard Somes
It won't be the MMFF without some action. Formal special forces operative turned security guard (Arjo Atayde) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder attempts to save a woman (Julia Montes) being pursued by a corrupt police death squad backed by a powerful drug cartel. Sid Lucero, Enchong Dee, Kokoy de Santos, Paolo Paraiso, Vin Abrenica, Cholo Barretto, Bernard Palanca, Jeffrey Tam, and Michael Joy Jornales also star in this Richard Somes film.
Uninvited
Directed by: Dan Villegas
A lot can happen in just one day, and psychological thriller film Uninvited unravels the events of a lavish party. Billionaire businessman Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach) throws a grand celebration. Gatecrasher Eva Candelaria (Vilma Santos) storms the party with vengeance she's cultivated for a decade, now ready to avenge her daughter whose blood was spilled under Vega's hands. Nadine Lustre, Tirso Cruz III, Mylene Dizon, Elijah Canlas, Gabby Padilla, RK Bagatsing, Lotlot de Leon, Ketchup Eusebio, Cholo Barretto, Gio Alvarez, and Ron Angeles make up the Dan Villegas film's cast.
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