Movies

Why MMDA is skipping Summer MMFF for 2024

January 9, 2024 | 4:06pm

Why MMDA is skipping Summer MMFF for 2024

The theatrical run for all 10 featured films of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been extended until Jan. 14 due to ‘public demand.’ The collective earnings of this year’s edition have already reached the P1 billion mark, beating the 2022 festival’s P500 million.

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no summer edition of the Metro Manila Festival this year, the Metro Manila Development Authority announced.

This as the 49th MMFF continues its record-breaking streak past the P1-billion mark and the MMDA gears up for the festival's golden anniversary in December.

MMDA chairman Atty. Romando Artes gave a press conference last January 9 to give updates on the most recent iteration of the MMFF and the MMDA's future plans.

Artes confirmed that as of January 7, the regular end of the festival, the 10 competing films managed to collectively bring in P1.069 billion, beating the previous record held by the 2018 edition.

The 2018 MMFF had a collective box office of P1.061 billion across nearly 1,200 cinemas, whereas the 2023 edition only opened in 800 theaters as several are still closed from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MMDA extended the screening of MMFF 2023 films for another week after it officially broke the P1-billion mark.

"Siguro masasabi natin ang success ng 2023 MMFF ay due to the quality of the films being offered," Artes said. "Kahit na 10 yung pelikula compared sa dating walo, talagang magaganda ang mga pelikula, maayos ang pagkakagawa."

The MMDA chairman also noted that this year's MMFF did not only manage to break outside of the CDE market but saw repeat watches of several participating films.

As a result, Artes hopes production companies will be continue providing quality films yearround, especially at the the upcoming 50th MMFF later this year.

Artes then announced that there would be no Summer MMFF this year as the MMDA wants to focus on the 50th MMFF, among other activities.

In lieu of this, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) headed by Tirso Cruz III reached out to the MMDA for assistance instead in staging its flagship project the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, which is marking its 7th year this 2024.

Another major project the MMDA is diverting attention to is the Manila International Film Festival, which will be in Los Angeles from January 29 to February 2; all 10 MMFF 2023 films are set to appear there.

The MMDA is also planning a coffee table book ahead of the 50th MMFF and, in coordination with the FDCP, are planning nationwide screenings of top MMFF films from the last 50 years for tickets worth P50.

"Para ipakita sa ating mga kababayan na noong araw pa ay nakakapag-produce tayo ng dekalidad ng pelikula," Artes added, hoping the 50th MMFF will be even bigger and more successful.

The Summer MMFF held its inaugural edition last year after multiple delays, where Jun Robles Lana's "About Us But Not About Us" starring Elijah Canlas and Romnick Sarmienta swept the competition with 10 wins.

The 2023 MMFF saw "Firefly" winning 1st Best Picture while historical drama "GomBurZa" won the most awards with seven including 2nd Best Picture, Best Director for Pepe Diokno, and Best Actor for Cedrick Juan.