Humor, drama, romance, political thrillers and horror: Change has come to MMFF!

For those among us who have for years been complaining about the corrosive effects of many local movies on our collective intellect and moral values, are we willing to support the bold reforms which the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is trying to push? Can we watch most — if not all eight — entries, and help spread their appeal via word of mouth and social media?

Change has come, even to the movies this Christmas, with the 2016 MMFF led by MMDA Chairman Tim Orbos, the MMFF Executive Committee and the Selection Committee daring to offer the public a delectable and diverse buffet of good quality movies which they hope will start “a renaissance of Philippine cinema.” Their challenge — supporters and detractors all agree — is how to make this set of good quality films commercially viable and sustainable without big-name superstars and without huge advertising budgets?

Although the mainstream film producers are my friends and we should patronize their Mano Po, Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto movies, I am a movie enthusiast and also a Ricky Lee scriptwriting workshop graduate who hopes to someday help create a great movie, so I recently hosted a Dec. 8 Pandesal Forum with media at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City to support the 2016 MMFF.

At this free-wheeling Pandesal Forum, MMFF Executive Committee’s Boots Anson Roa Rodrigo and Moira Lang, MMFF Selection Committee chairman Prof. Nic Tiongson and member Krip Yuson, Cong. Alfred Vargas’s representative Noel Ferrer, directors Alvin Yapan and Avid Liongoren, actors Ricky Davao and Acey Aguilar, scriptwriter Charlene Esguerra among others were invited to break bread and explain the reforms behind the 2016 MMFF and asked media as well as the public to support all eight entries which will begin showing on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

Another MMFF Selection Committee member who helped to unanimously choose the eight films and whom I invited to the forum was abroad: Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte loves movies and is a prime mover behind the Quezon City International Film Festival.

Here are the eight exciting 2016 MMFF entries by mostly independent film producers, in alphabetical order (and not order of importance).

•Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough. A satire starring Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos, Joel Torre and directed by Marlon Rivera. This film is backed by five indie film producers, one of which is Tuko Film Productions owned by Fernando Ortigas of the landed Hispanic Ortigas clan of Greenhills, San Juan City and co-producer of the indie box office hit Heneral Luna.

•Die Beautiful. A black comedy that won two awards at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival, this movie stars Tokyo Best Actor awardee Paolo Ballesteros, Joel Torre, Gladys Reyes, Luis Alandy, Albie Casiño, directed by Jun Lana and produced by Perci Intalan. This film was funded by Hong Kong-Asia Financing Forum and is distributed and backed in marketing by Mother Lily Y. Monteverde’s Regal Entertainment.

Kabisera. This socio-political drama deals with the now-controversial so-called extrajudicial killings under President Duterte, and stars Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, JC De Vera, Jason Abalos, RJ Agustin, Victor Neri, Ronwaldo Martin; directed by Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido.

•Oro. A political thriller about the controversial topic of irresponsible mining, starring Irma Adlawan, Joem Bascon, Mercedes Cabral, also theater actors Acey Aguilar and Cedrick Juan, directed by Ateneo literature teacher Alvin Yapan.

•Saving Sally. This is the underdog film of this year’s MMFF. A romance combined with sci-fi, live action and animation, it has incredibly survived 10 years of struggles in the making due to lack of resources. It stars Rhian Ramos and Enzo Marcos, directed by Avid Liongoren and with scriptwriter Charlene Esguerra.

•Seklusyon. A horror movie starring Rhed Bustamante, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Phoebe Walker, Dominic Roque, Elora Españo, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales, directed by Erik Matti. One of the producers behind this Reality Entertainment outfit is Mother Lily’s son Dondon Monteverde. This firm also produced the controversial Honor Thy Father movie of the 2015 MMFF, starring John Lloyd Cruz, a film that was disqualified for the Best Picture Award (the controversy led to a congressional investigation).

•Sunday Beauty Queen. A unique documentary drama on OFWs in Hong Kong, starring Rudelyn Acosta, Cherrie Mae Bretana, Mylyn Jacobo, Hazel Perdido, Leo Selomenio, directed by Babyruth Villarama Gutierrez. One of the indie producers behind this project is Tuko Film Productions of Fernando Ortigas.

•Vince & Kath & James. A romantic comedy starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Ronnie Alonte, directed by Theodore Boborol and produced by the Philippines’ biggest movie producer Star Cinema of ABS CBN media group. Star Cinema is led by its president Malou Santos.

Instead of just complaining about the supposed tyranny of asphyxiating “bad movies” or “trashy films,” why don’t we help produce positive change by watching all eight entries in the 2016 MMFF, enthusiastically sharing our honest film reviews via word of mouth, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs?

Let us help with collective efforts to uplift the quality of Philippine cinema and culture. Man does not live by bread (or pandesal) alone, economic growth is not enough for genuine progress, because we also need substantive cultural and spiritual development for true national progress!

Saving Sally is the “underdog” film of the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival, combining sci-fi, live action and animation.

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