2016 MMFF minus Wenn Deramas

MANILA, Philippines - Without director Wenn Deramas, the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), set to announce the eight official entries out of 60-plus complete film submissions today, will the annual event be the same? 

The television/film writer/helmer widely known as the Blockbuster Director who passed on at 49 early this year from cardiac arrest will be out. In the year that MMFF is curiously undergoing a direction-changing “#Reelvolution,” Wenn will not be at the turnaround year.

Wenn entered MMFF with Ai-Ai delas Alas’ iconic starrer Ang Tanging Ina Mo series (Ang Tanging Ina Mo [2003], Ang Cute ng Ina Mo [2007], Ang Tanging Ina Nyong Lahat [2008], Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last na ‘To! [2010]). Enteng ng Ina Mo (2011) with Vic Sotto was directed by Tony Reyes that left Wenn without an official entry that year.

Beauty and the Bestie is the confirmed top grosser of the 2015 MMFF

Wenn owns three slots in the 2015 List of Highest-Grossing Films (Local and Foreign) in the Philippines with his MMFF films Beauty and the Bestie (Yes, it is 2015 MMFF highest estimated grossing film with P526M) at rank No. 3, The Amazing Praybet Benjamin with P456M at rank No. 5 and Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy with P436M at rank No. 7.

All were MMFF entries, the other Philipines-made film is Cathy Garcia-Molina’s A Second Chance with P446M at rank No. 5.

Iron Man 3 with P626M and The Avengers with P601M hold ranks No. 1 and 2 in that order.

Wenn Deramas as illustrated by Willy Rubio Quibral is not only the owner of the Metro Manila Film Festival record of highest-grossing director but also the Philippines’

Wenn is the highest-grossing Filipino helmer as of 2015 and topped MMFF grosses in the last four years (with Sisterakas at P393M) as director, from 2012 to 2015.

Known for his own brand camp comedy, Wenn selected top crowd drawers for headliners, among them Ai-Ai, Vice Ganda and Kris Aquino with a complement unswerving support cast. He made them act out fresh narratives to bring captured viewers reeling and rolling with laughter.

Ai-Ai and Vice with the working title Sampung Gamol will be back, with Vice and Coco Martin as lead actors in that order. Although they never launched their dream full-length feature, Eugene Domingo will be present with Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2. This is assuming, for sure, their entries are picked as official entries.

The kind of commercialism that Wenn and the perennial top grossers represented is precisely the reason the 2016 MMFF Executive Committee opted to adapt global film festival standards of finished entries, quality films and open category.

If this is achieved, who knows if Wenn’s absence will open doors for a different kind of comedy. But the most daring challenge is to exceed his box-office record.

But Christmas without MMFF as much-anticipated by children and families to celebrate it with is a dire and disgusting prospect.