Christmas season in the Philippines just isn't complete without the annual Metro Manila Film Festival.
The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a film festival celebrating Filipino cinema and filmmakers that's in its 50th edition this year. From Dec. 25, 2024 to Jan. 7, 2025, movie theaters in the country (except IMAX or 4D) show only Filipino-produced films on their screens.
This year's theme is called "Sinesigla sa Singkwenta" and is set to feature 10 films of various genres. The first five competing films were announced back in July 2024, with the remaining five entries later announced in October 2024.
The awards ceremony or "Gabi ng Parangal"of the MMFF 2024 will be held at the Manila Metropolitan Theater in Manila, where the 10 films will be vying for awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and the like.
Excited to find out what Philippine cinema has to offer? Here's a rundown of the movies lined up for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024:
And the Breadwinner Is...
Starring: Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, Gladys Reyes, Jhong Hilario, Maris Racal, and Anthony Jennings
Directed by: Jun Lana
Production Company: Star Cinema, The IdeaFirst Company
Genre: Comedy, Family
Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda) is her family's breadwinner, working as an OFW in Taiwan. When she comes home to Arayat, Pampanga, she is greeted by their dilapidated house. She and her family then restart their business – "Papsy's Panaderyuh, Home of the Original Kalil," a bakery shop and funeral parlor.
Green Bones
Starring: Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid
Directed by: Zig Dulay
Production Company: GMA Pictures
Genre: Suspense, Drama
The story follows a soon-to-be-released criminal (Dennis Trillo) and a corrections officer (Ruru Madrid) who is still grieving the death of his sister and is against the release of the criminal.
Isang Himala
Starring: Bituin Escalante, Aicelle Santos, David Ezra, Vic Robinson
Directed by: Pepe Diokno
Production Company: Kapitol Films, UXS
Genre: Musical
A musical film based on a theatrical play "Himala: Isang Musikal" that premiered in 2018. The play is an adaptation of the 1982 Ishmael Bernal movie "Himala" which starred Nora Aunor.
The Kingdom
Starring: Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual, Cristine Reyes, Sue Ramirez, Sid Lucero
Directed by: Michael "Mike" Tuviera
Production Company: APT Entertainment, Mzet Productions MediaQuest
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Adventure
The movie is set in the contemporary period and an alternate version of the Philippines which had never been colonized. It features the hierarchy of the Kaharian ng Kalayaan and Malayas.
Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital
Starring: Enrique Gil, Jane De Leon, Alexa Miro, Rob Gomez, MJ Lastimosa
Directed by: Kerwin Go
Production Company: Reality MM Studios
Genre: Horror
The film is an adaptation of the 2018 South Korean horror film "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum." The story follows Filipino amateur ghosthunters who will explore the Xinglin General Hospital in Tainan, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Taiwan.
Espantaho
Starring: Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino, Mon Confiado
Directed by: Chito S. Roño
Production Company: Quantum Films, Cineko Productions, Purple Bunny Productions
Genre: Horror
No premise or synopsis has been revealed, but Atty. Joji Alonso, one of Quantum Films' producers, shared a post with the caption, "Every family has its secrets. Some, more sinister than others."
Hold Me Close
Starring: Julia Barretto, Carlo Aquino
Directed by: Jason Paul Laxaman
Production Company: Viva Films, Ninuno Media
Genre: Romance
Woody (Carlo Aquino) has been traveling for seven years just to find a place to settle. He goes to Japan and meets Lynlyn (Julia Barretto), a girl who has a special ability to tell if a certain person can bring happiness or harm to her by simply touching them.
My Future You
Starring: Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin
Directed by: Cristano Aquino
Production Company: Regal Entertainment
Genre: Romance Comedy
Karen (Francine Diaz) and Lex (Seth Fedelin) match with each other on a dating app. After failing to meet up, they find out that they're living in separate timelines, 15 years apart. Their connection? A comet.
Topakk
Starring: Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Sid Lucero, Enchong Dee, Kokoy de Santos
Directed by: Richard Somes
Production Company: Nathan Studios, Strawdog Studios, FUSEE
Genre: Action, Thriller
An ex-special forces operative (Arjo Atayde) who suffers from PTSD attempts to save the life of a woman (Julia Montes) being hunted and chased by a corrupt police death squad working for a drug cartel.
Uninvited
Starring: Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, Aga Muhlach
Directed by: Dan Villegas
Production Company: Mentorque Productions, Project 8 Projects
Genre: Thriller
No official synopsis or premise was revealed. Posts from Mentorque Productions on Instagram have this line in their captions: "HINDI LANG ‘TO BASTA PARTY❗️🥂"
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