What does 39th MMFF for 2013 have in store?

Each Christmas that approaches means that the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is upon us. We are hoping that perhaps there might be some positive changes in the entries. A look at the entries last year shows that out of the eight official entries, the highest gross was snagged by Sisterakas from Star Cinema/Viva at P342M; followed by One More Try from Star Cinema/Octoarts at P170M; with Si Agimat, si Enteng Kabisote at si Ako from Imus/GMA Films at P133.5M.

Major awards were Best Picture (One More Try), Second Best Picture (El Presidente) and Third Best Picture  (Sisterakas).  For director and acting awards, Best Director to Brillante Mendoza for Thy Womb, Best Actor to Dingdong Dantes in One More Try and Best Actress to Nora Aunor in Thy Womb.

Obviously, to us, the big winner last year was One More Try bagging Best Picture and Best Actor.

What will be the landscape this season? Eight official entries announced by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino are 10,000 Hours; Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy; Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel; Pagpag; Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir; Kaleidoscope World; and My Little Bossings.

Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir written and directed by Francis Villacorta and produced by HPI Synergy Group and Wings Entertainment stars Rocco Nacino as Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint declared by the Roman Catholic church after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila. Christian Vasquez plays Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores.

Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy from Star Cinema and Viva Films stars Vice Ganda, Maricel Soriano, Joey Marquez, Ruffa Gutierrez and Cristine Reyes. It tells the story of quadruplet siblings all played by Vice and directed by Wenn Deramas. It required Vice to put on make-up and prosthetics for six hours and to portray four different personalities.

Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay is a Filipino horror and suspense thriller starring Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Shaina Magdayao and Paulo Avelino. It is a co-production of Star Cinema and Regal Films, directed by Frasco Mortiz, based on a Filipino superstitious belief that one should not go home directly after visiting a wake and risk bringing evil spirits to one’s home. One should first shake off (pagpag) whatever curse may be possible.

Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel is the last installment of the trilogy. It sets the background for the happenings in Kimmy Dora — Kambal sa Kiyeme introducing the twin sisters (both played by Eugene Domingo) who are rivals in all matters. In Kambal, the twins are rivals for the attention of Dingdong Dantes. In the prequel, the man of their dreams is Sam Milby.

10,000 Hours, is the action-packed film starring Robin Padilla directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal. Robin plays a rookie cop who helps bring down a crime syndicate without knowing that its head is a corrupt general out to seen him behind bars. Robin goes into hiding in a foreign land awaiting the justice that had been promised him.

Based roughly on the life of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Robin Padilla admits to being inspired by Panfilo. “Alam mo, iisa lang siyang hindi kumuha ng pork barrel,” stressed Robin. “Parang may fiction at may totoo, halo-halo na,” says Ping, revealing to have suggested the title 10,000 Hours since that is more or less the number of months he was in hiding.

Boy Golden: The Arturo Porcuna Story starring ER Ejercito is another action film about a gangster thought dead but now thirsting for revenge against old adversaries. Along the way he meets Marla Dee (KC Concepcion), a sexy, stunning woman filled with vendetta against the same gang. The movie is directed by Chito Roño, with veterans Eddie Garcia, John Estrada and Tonton Guiterrez.

Kaleidoscope World is a hip-hop dance film inspired by the music of Francis M. starring Yassi Pressman, Sef Cadayona, Alma Concepcion and Pia Pilapil, directed by Gorio Vicuna and Eliza Cornejo. Sef is a poor boy who meets rich Yassi in an open audition for the No. 1 local hip-hop crew. They make it to the team but as their life and love prosper, their dancing suffers.

My Little Bossings from Mzet, OctoArts, APT and Kris Aquino Prods tells of how bookkeeper Vic Sotto is requested by millionaire cash management specialist Kris to care for her son Bimby Aquino Yap, whom he takes home to meet niece Aiza Seguerra and former street urchin Ryzza Mae Dizon. How all of them would get along under one roof is the focus of the story. It is directed by Marlon Rivera.

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