“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2” stars
Eugene Domingo (center) with Joel Torre (left) and Jericho Rosales
THE FINAL list of movies that made it to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is out.
The entries—eight full-length movies and eight short films-were announced at Club Filipino yesterday (Nov. 18), and the reveal came unexpected as frequent MMFF mainstays like Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto failed to make the cut.
The “Magic 8”, according to the MMFF, are:
“Die Beautiful” (October Train Films and The Idea First Company) directed by Jun Robles Lana; starring Paolo Ballesteros
“Kabisera” directed by Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido; starring Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, JC De Vera, Jason Abalos, Victor Neri and Rj Agustin
“Saving Sally” directed by Avid Liongoren; starring Rhian Ramos and Enzo Marcos
“Seklusyon” (Reality Entertainment) directed by Erik Matti; starring Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espano, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Dominique Roque, John Vic De Guzman and JR Versales
“Sunday Beauty Queen” directed by Baby Ruth Villarama; starring Hazel Perdid, Maylyn Jacobo, Cherry Bretania and Leo Selomenio
“Vince & Kath & James” (Star Cinema) directed by Ted Boborol; starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia and Ronnie Alonte
“Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough.” (Martinez Rivera Films and Quantum Films in association with TBA) directed by Marlon Rivera; starring Eugene Domingo and Chris Martinez
“Oro” directed by Alvin Yapan; starring Joem Bascon
Meanwhile, competing in the short-film category are: “Birds” by Christian Paulo Lat, “EJK” by Bor Ocampo, “Manila Screen” by Roque Lee and Blair Camilo, “Mga Bitoon sa Siyudad” by Jarell Serencio, “Mitatang” by Argin Jezer Gagui, “Momo” by Avid Liongoren, “Passage of Life” by Renz Vincemark Cruz and Hannah and “Sitsiritsit” by Brian Spencer Reyes.
As with previous years, the MMFF movies will be in theaters on Dec. 25.
The festival will run until Jan. 7 and the awards night will be on Jan. 8. The annual MMFF parade will be held on Dec. 23.
The final list got mixed reactions fom netizens. Some fans of Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto questioned why their films did not make it to this year’s MMFF 2016.
Still, others saw it as an opening for more appreciation of independent filmmaking.
“Corny and boring they say but I find it as an opening for indie films to be on the spotlight and shine. Let’s give them a chance,” tweeted King Jimenez Sulangi.
Last year, the MMFF has been rocked with several controversies following the sudden disqualification of Erik Matti’s “Honor Thy Father” from the Best Picture” category.