Dolly de Leon is jury chair in 1st Summer MMFF

Fresh from the recent Hollywood awards season, Dolly de Leon is serving as the chairperson of the jury for the Gabi ng Parangal of the inaugural edition of the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Happening tonight at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City, the Gabi ng Parangal or awards night is expected to recognize artistic and technical merit among the eight competing entries, namely Brillante Mendoza’s Apag, Chris Martinez’s Here Comes the Groom, RC delos Reyes’ Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story, Fifth Solomon’s Single Bells, JP Habac’s Love You Long Time, Jun Robles Lana’s About Us, Not About Us, Joven Tan’s Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera, and Bela Padilla’s Yung Libro Sa Napanuod Ko.

In a statement, the MMFF executive committee (execom) noted “Dolly Earnshaw de Leon’s excellence and integrity as an artist and as a person” as well as her international acclaim as a Filipino film, television, and theater actress.

“Miss Dolly de Leon will head a group of very credible jury members who will be named along with the winners at the Gabi Ng Parangal at 8 p.m. telecast on OnePH with a delayed telecast on TV5 at 10:45 p.m.,” Noel Ferrer, MMFF spokesperson, told The STAR.

The veteran actress is best-known for her work in Raymund Ribay Gutierrez’s Verdict and Lav Diaz’s Historya ni Ha, but it was the Palme d’Or-winning Triangle of Sadness that earned her notice and recognition overseas.

For her portrayal in the Ruben Ostlund social class satire, she became the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) and Golden Globe Awards, and honored at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. She recently attended Hollywood’s biggest night, the Oscars, in support of her film that received three nominations. This year, British Vogue listed Dolly as among “30 of the world’s most famous stars.”

Currently signed with the US-based artist agency Fusion Entertainment, she is set to do more international films, including Paul Feig’s Grand Death Lotto, which also stars John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu.

Meanwhile, the official nominees for the different award categories will be revealed at 12 noon today via the MMFF Facebook page.

The Summer MMFF opened on Black Saturday and runs nationwide for 11 days until April 18.

Addressing concerns over the box-office performance of the official entries so far, Noel said, “We can consider this festival a slow burn because most of our kababayans might have gone out of town during the Holy Week. But good thing, people have gradually gone back to the theaters.”

“We trust that the Filipino audience will support good local films if they are given the chance,” he told The STAR.

Results of the Gabi ng Parangal traditionally boost the box-office revenues of the films.

“Audiences value artistry and good word of mouth in the whole duration of the festival,” said Noel.

“Case in point: Last year, Deleter starring Nadine Lustre climbed to the No. 1 spot, ending as the festival topgrosser after it was awarded Best Picture. In this festival, we hope that those that are awarded for artistic merits will do better at the box-office.

“It is also worth mentioning that mounting an all-Filipino film festival, with entries that will set new benchmarks for future MMFFs and will be good subjects for review in schools and universities, is already a feat in itself.”

The December and Summer MMFF stagings are organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and held in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, primarily with the intention to “promote the preservation of Philippine cinema.”

This 2023 marked the start of the Summer edition, seen as added help and support for the struggling local film industry to get back on its feet after being severely affected by the COVID pandemic.

Proceeds from the MMFF are set to benefit the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc., the Motion Picture and Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Optical Media Board.