‘Die Beautiful,’ ‘Vince and Kath and James’ top MMFF box office rankings

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila Film Festival  entries “Die Beautiful” and “Vince and Kath and James” led the festival’s box office rankings, the festival's executive committee announced Wednesday. 

Ten days after the start of screening, Jun Lana’s drama comedy “Die Beautiful” was named the top-grossing entry in Manila while Star Cinema’s “Vince and Kath and James” emerged as entry that earned most in the provinces.

Erik Matti’s award-winning “Seklusyon”, on the other hand, took second place in both Manila and provincial box office rankings.

Here are the MMFF box office ranking released by festival public relations head Noel Ferrer:

Official Ranking – Metro Manila

1. Die Beautiful

2. Seklusyon

3. Vince and Kath and James

4. Saving Sally

5. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2

6. Sunday Beauty Queen

7. Oro

8. Kabisera

Official Ranking – Provincial

1. Vince and Kath and James

2. Seklusyon

3. Die Beautiful

4. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2

5. Saving Sally

6. Sunday Beauty Queen

7. Oro

8. Kabisera

The MMFF executive committee has yet to release the official figures of the films’ earnings but Star Cinema disclosed that “Vince and Kath and James” obtained over P100 million in ticket sales.

Ferrer said the committee did not target to exceed MMFF earnings last year given the change of entries. However, he is grateful for the public reception for all the eight entries which were deemed different from the previous entries of the festival.

He stressed that it is no longer a battle between independent films and mainstreams because priority is to give value on quality over commercial viability of films.

“In the end, there is no price that we can put on audience education and development. Ang sarap makita ng mga reaksyon ng mga manonood sa social media at marinig sa iba't ibang umpukan na sa matagal na panahon, ang pinag uusapan ay hindi kung sino ang sikat - kundi kung ano ang maganda, mahusay at nakaantig ng ating puso. Kahit sa gitna ng isyu sa ORO, prinsipyo ang pinag-uusapan hindi iskandalo,” Ferrer wrote.

“Sa huli't huli, hindi mapapantayan ang mga palakpak pagkatapos ng magandang palabas at ang matinding kahilingan na panatilihin o ibalik sa sinehan ang mga magagandang pelikulang karapatdapat nating suportahan,” he added.

 

From Philip Cheah of the Singapore FilmFestival, MMFF 2016 Jury:?"It was a good spread of films that was interesting to see. If the awards did help the winning films to extend their stay at the box office, then exhibitors should be encouraged to allow a longer period for word of mouth to build. " --- Sa actual gross ng festival, hindi naman target ng MMFF 2016 na higitan ang kita noong isang taon. Alam naman nating nagkaroon nga ng pagbabago at kasama roon ang demokratisasyon ng kita ng MMFF. Ibig sabihin, sa halip na mapunta ang malaking percentage ng earnings sa iilang malalaking kumpanya lamang, kumikita din ngayon ang mas nakararaming maliliit na producers-- (dahil maliliit lang naman ang budget - kumpara sa dati- ng karamihang produksyon) - sapat para makagawa ulit ng makabuluhang pelikula. Kung di dahil sa filmfest malabong kumita ang mga maliliit na produksyon nang may masayang tubo/ profit pa. --- SIMULA PA LANG ITO. There are a lot of lessons to be learned and things to improve. But it's good that we have put value on quality over commercial viability. It is not anymore indie versus mainstream - because we know that both can come up with quality films. In the end, there is no price that we can put on audience education and development. Ang sarap makita ng mga reaksyon ng mga manonood sa social media at marinig sa iba't ibang umpukan na sa matagal na panahon, ang pinag uusapan ay hindi kung sino ang sikat - kundi kung ano ang maganda, mahusay at nakaantig ng ating puso. Kahit sa gitna ng isyu sa ORO, prinsipyo ang pinag-uusapan hindi iskandalo. Sa huli't huli, hindi mapapantayan ang mga palakpak pagkatapos ng magandang palabas at ang matinding kahilingan na panatilihin o ibalik sa sinehan ang mga magagandang pelikulang karapatdapat nating suportahan. MABUHAY ANG PELIKULANG PILIPINO! MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT! ITULOY NATIN ANG MAGANDA AT MABUTING PAGBABAGO! #MMFF2016

A photo posted by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer) on

Jan 4, 2017 at 4:15am PST

“Die Beautiful” earned various awards both international and locally. At the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal, it won My Most Favorite Film and Best Float awards while central actors, Paolo Ballesteros and Christian Bables won Best actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively.

Paolo welcomed the lead in rankings gratefully.

“DIE BEAUTIFUL IS NO.1! More than the awards, box-office hit, maraming salamat sa bawat tawanan, luha at palakpak na ibinibigay nyo sa aming lahat sa bawat pagtatapos ng pelikula! Thank you! Wooooh! Nakakaiyak!,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

On the other hand, "Vince and Kath and James" was granted Children’s choice award. It was also named the first-day top grossing MMFF entry.

Cinema owners decided to extend the screening of the MMFF entries until January 7. However, of which, only seven are still being shown in cinemas because controversial film entry “Oro’s” screening has been deferred until further notice. 

RELATED: 'Vince and Kath and James' tops MMFF first-day earnings