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These 10 MMFF Entries Will Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas

Get your eyes peeled with Metro Manila Film Festival 2023’s exciting gems!

Article (news)

Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

<p>This <strong>2023</strong>, instead of its traditional lineup of eight film entries, the latest <strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/metro-manila-film-festival-2022-winners/34558" target="_blank">Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)</a></strong> decided to stretch its roster. Chairman of the selection committee <strong>Jesse Ejercito</strong> said during the submissions review that three of the movies submitted made it to Magic 8, and had a total mark of 93.3%. With much deliberation, the management and board agreed on breaking the tie no longer, extending the new lineup to ten.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>Last July, MMFF first announced the four entries for its <strong>49th edition</strong>, and leading them are Star Cinema’s <strong><em><a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/dongyan-presented-the-official-poster-of-rewind/36739" target="_blank">Rewind</a></em></strong>, top-billed by celebrity couple <strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/metro-talks-dingdong-dantes-marian-rivera-rewind/36919" target="_blank">Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera</a></strong>. The other three are <strong><em>Family of Two: A Mother and Son Story</em></strong>, <em><strong>(K)ampon</strong></em>, and <strong><em>Penduko</em></strong>. To open this year’s top film festival in the Philippines, also, are qualifiers <em><strong>When I Met You in Tokyo</strong></em>, <strong><em>Becky and Badette</em></strong>, <strong><em><a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/warner-bros-mentorque-movie-mallari-piolo-pascual/36764" target="_blank">Mallari</a></em></strong>, <em><strong>Firefly</strong></em>, <em><strong>Broken Heart’s Trip</strong></em>, and <strong><em>Gomburza</em></strong>.</p><div><br/></div><p>The prestigious film fest’s parade of stars and floats is set to happen on <strong>December 17</strong> with its host <strong>CAMANAVA</strong> (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela). The event will kick off in Navotas and end in Valenzuela. The much-anticipated annual awards, meanwhile, will transpire on <strong>December 27</strong>. According to Metro Manila Film Festival, this edition has secured 26 script entries from a pool of 32 production companies for the competition. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>For more information on the movies, browse through the gallery below and take a look at the MMFF lineup’s cast and plot up close:</strong></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0f8a262c-4ea8-4dd1-abec-b11f2f9f5db8_mmff 2023 landscape.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a71a29de-ef61-412b-8157-0f31494380c8_mmff - becky and badette.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b9c1e0b4-2389-4b45-a8c7-f2f3721d7fe0_mmff - broken heart" s="" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0144dd2e-532c-4101-8eb7-5940b2394e24_mmff - family of two, a mother and son" s="" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e931aed7-981b-46e8-b437-e4f3a3cee39b_mmff - firefly.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1674ba65-fe7d-4902-94cf-fddde7014d0e_mmff - gomburza.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/227b360b-2104-476d-9607-49de2b8d2248_mmff - kampon.png" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c95c10ab-ba68-406d-93b1-7fec605e6d92_mmff - mallari.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/73a04534-e37c-4ba9-a766-9c6562153dd0_mmff - penduko.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/3aa10e44-5715-4a2d-be39-1b2e77c2b09b_mmff - rewind.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8c6f0b6e-de1f-43d0-aecd-7b2b9a8272c5_mmff - when i met you in tokyo.jpg" alt="These Ten MMFF Entries Entice You to Come to the Cinemas on Christmas" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Becky &amp; Badette” - Starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang, “Becky and Badette” is a story that follows two best friends who gained fame by manufacturing a made-up tale about their high school batchmate after being ridiculed in a high school reunion.<cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Broken Heart’s Trip” - This Christian Bables starrer takes us into the lives of five LGBT identities who seek to move on from a sore past. These people then participated in a reality program that offers them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to heal in the most majestic hotspots in the Philippines—with a catch, of course.<cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Family of Two: A Mother and Son Story” - Starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards, Cineko Productions’ “Family of Two: A Mother and Son Story” follows the story of a mother and son whose relationship suddenly hits a snag. Helmed by Nuel Naval, the family-centric film is bound to make televiewers shed tears. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Firefly” - “Firefly” is a Philippine fantasy film produced by GMA Network and directed by Zig Dulay. Starring Alessandra De Rossi and child star Euwenn Mikaell, it centers on a hopeful child who sets out on a journey in search of the fabled island of fireflies. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Gomburza” - “Gomburza” is a Filipino biographical film that features three priests in the Spanish period, Padre Mariano Gomez, Padre José Burgos, and Padre Jacinto Zamora. Top-billed by Dante Rivero, Cedrick Juan, and Enchong Dee, the tale revolves around the martyr acts of Gomburza and the revolutionary ideals that they identify with.<cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“(K)ampon” - Derek Ramsay and Beauty Gonzales team up for Quantum Films’ horror-thriller movie “(K)ampon” for the much-awaited MMFF affair. Directed by King Palisoc, the dark film follows a childless married couple who met a strange girl some time on their doorstep, and started to drift apart after adopting the odd and mysterious outsider. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Mallari” - Starring Kapamilya star Piolo Pascual, “Mallari” recounts the narrative of Father Severino Mallari, a reported serial killer in the Spanish colonization who murdered 57 civilians to aid his ailing mother. His descent to madness and the strange mysteries surrounding his life will be let loose in this latest historical horror. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Penduko” - A forthcoming superhero film, “Penduko” is a revival of Pedro Penduko’s character through the rather comic persona of Peter Harris, played by Matteo Guidicelli. Peter is going back to the Philippines for the death of his father, with evil forces and dangers slinking by his side.<cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“Rewind” - Star Cinema’s “Rewind” is a comeback project for power couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. The film focuses on a time-bending theme and follows the story of a seemingly failed marriage. The movie, directed by Mae-Cruz Alviar, delves into marital issues, consequences, and second chances. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>“When I Met You in Tokyo” - Seasoned veterans Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos stars in “When I Met You in Tokyo,” a tale that tackles love through the lens of two elderly workers who had an encounter at a train station, and then meeting some more after a series of accidental meet-ups in metropolitan Tokyo. <cite>Trailer</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from of <strong>IMDb</strong></p><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/culture/film-tv/pulp-studios-ma-am-chief-shakedown-in-seoul-review/36709" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 Winning Moments of Pulp Studios’ Debut Movie, &#x27;Ma’am Chief: Shakedown In Seoul&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/culture/film-tv/a-very-good-girl-movie-review/36348" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Here&#x27;s Why Kathryn and Dolly&#x27;s Movie, “A Very Good Girl,” Is A Must-Watch</a></div>