MMFF aims to break last year's P600M mark

MANILA, Philippines - The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has expanded its scope to include the New Wave Section, the category for full-length independent fi lms and student short films.

More than 30 entries were received for the category, which were then pared down to make up the offi cial list of the special segment conceived mainly as a show of support to independent fi lmmaking.

The MMFF New Wave fi lms will be screened ahead of the mainstream films that are traditionally shown beginning Christmas Day. This will be held at the Robinsons Galleria, starting tomorrow and will run until Dec. 21 with a gala night on the fi rst two days and regular screening on the last three days.

Film director Mark Meily, who’s part of the MMFF executive committee, said that the New Wave fi lms were selected according to their content, choice of subject, story and screenplay as well as high technical standards encompassing cinematography, design, sound, among others.

Five full-length entries earned the approval of the selection committee and these are: Haruo by Adolf Alix; Ritual by Yeng Grande; HIV by Neal Tan; Dyagwar by Ogie Diaz and Sid Pascua; and Pintakasi by Imee Marcos and Nelson Caguila.

“They’re not the usual themes and genre movies,” Meily said of the roster of indie entries.

Take for example, Pintakasi. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, the fi lm’s producer, said, “This is a very old story about a (modern-day) Jose Rizal. We started shooting in 2009 and began a very long process of moving the footage through animation, special effects and all kinds of digital media.”

She added, “This is the country’s fi rst hip-hop film and the first multimedia film of the Philippines. It’s very novel and very tricky; we’re just very happy to make it to the MMFF.”

Meanwhile, among the student shorts submitted, seven were chosen, namely; Payaso from La Salle Lipa; Adivino from the Asia-Pacifi c Film Institute; Sanayan Lang Ang Pagpatay from the Ateneo de Naga University; Biyahe Ni Barbie from the College of St. Benilde School of Digital Arts; Oras from the International Academy of Film and Television in Cebu; Mate from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran; I See Everything from Southville International School; Bagong Ligo from Mapua; Speechless from Miriam College; and Ulan from La Consolacion College.

“We are overwhelmed with the response as we have entries from as far as Naga and even entries shot by high school students,” Meily said.

A separate jury will choose the Best Independent Feature and Best Student Short Film as well as acting honors to be awarded during the MMFF Awards Night Program to be held at the New World Resort Hotel on Dec. 28. An additional prize for the Most Gender Sensitive Independent Film will also be given in the same program by the Quezon City Gender and Development Offi ce. The selection of winners will be based on the same criteria as the MMFF regulars, except for the commercial viability that is factored in for the Best Picture awardee among the mainstream entries. Meily, nevertheless, said that hopefully, indies will join the main competition.

For his part, Joey Reyes, director of the mainstream fi lm entry My Househusband, welcomes this new development in the MMFF. Direk Joey, who’s doing his fi rst indie fi lm next year, said, “I think every opportunity to bring independent cinema as well as student fi lms to the public consciousness is a very good reason to celebrate. It enriches Philippine cinema even more.”

Meanwhile, Francis Tolentino, chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said that they hope to break the P600M income earned in last year’s MMFF box-office.

“I was told we can breach that P600M milestone this year,” he said. MMDA spearheads the annual MMFF.

The executive committee is confi dent that the box-office record set in 2010 will be shattered, citing this year has the best crop of entries in years.