MMDA Chair Don Artes confirms full support for filmmakers, streamlining the lineup to eight entries to target a box office beyond ₱800 Million.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is easing the financial burden on producers participating in the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) by covering the costs of all gala screenings for this year’s official entries.
MMDA Chair Don Artes said the agency, which organizes the annual festival, is introducing several changes to support producers. “We sponsored all the premiere nights starting Dec. 15. Each film has different screening dates and cinemas, and all are paid for by the MMFF,” he told reporters at the recent Celebrity Golf Tournament, which also aims to help boost producers’ promotional budgets.
“We stream the press conferences and share them on our social media accounts. We fully support all promotional efforts for the films,” he added.
Targeting a stronger box office
Artes confirmed the festival lineup was streamlined back to eight entries—a move intended to help each entry maximize its earnings potential. “From eight, we raised it to 10, and then brought it back down to eight so every film gets a better opportunity to earn,” he explained.
Last year’s 50th edition of the MMFF successfully reached its target, earning “a little over ₱800 million.” Artes expressed hope that this year’s edition will surpass that figure.
MMFF 2025 Official Entries (The Magic 8)
The eight official entries showcasing a mix of genres are:
- “Call Me Mother” (Director: Jun Robles Lana)
- “Rekonek” (Director: Jade Castro)
- “Manila’s Finest” (Director: Raymond Red)
- “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” (Directors: Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman, Ian Loreños)
- “I’mPerfect” (Director: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo)
- “Love You So Bad” (Director: Mae Cruz-Alviar)
- “Unmarry” (Director: Jeffrey Jeturian)
- “Bar Boys: After School” (Director: Kip Oebanda)
He addressed concerns about the absence of a children’s film this year. “Not necessarily. Some entries can still be enjoyed by kids and teens. Hopefully, in future editions, we’ll have films specifically made for children,” he said.
Artes assured all entries will have fair cinema allocation, promising that no film will get “zero cinemas.” He noted a playdate committee monitors distribution to ensure fairness and rotation, especially in areas with limited theaters.
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Cinema allocation
He assured that all entries will have fair exposure. “We make sure no one gets zero cinemas. We try to balance the distribution and give every producer the opportunity to screen their films in as many cinemas as possible.”
In areas with only two cinemas, those with higher demand are prioritized, but rotations are made to ensure fairness. “We constantly communicate with producers. We also have a playdate committee monitoring this.”
Host city and Parade of the Stars
This year’s festival host, Makati City, will also host the Parade of the Stars on Dec. 19. For safety reasons, the MMDA is prohibiting the throwing of candies, shirts, and other giveaways from floats.
“We discourage that because crowds might rush toward the float, which could cause accidents,” Artes said.
Awards Night
The MMFF Awards Night is set for Dec. 27 at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Jury screenings begin this week, while deliberations will take place on the morning of Dec. 27. “Last year, deliberations took six hours. There was intense debate. The process is very serious,” he said.
Manila International Film Festival eyes Dubai
For the international component of the festival, MMDA Chair Artes announced preparations for a possible shift of the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF)—which was previously held in the US—to Dubai.
“We’re arranging something in Dubai upon the instructions of the First Lady. We met with the UAE ambassador last week to finalize details. Preparations are ongoing,” he said.
Whether the festival will retain the name “Manila International Film Festival” has yet to be determined. “We’ll announce the details once everything is finalized. We have a producers’ meeting this week,” he added.
Meanwhile, Artes led the MMFF’s 2nd Celebrity Golf Tournament at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, calling it a show of unity for Philippine cinema.
“We express gratitude for the unwavering support of personalities from the entertainment sector, the government, and sponsors for the Philippine film industry while generating excitement for the festival,” added Artes.
MMDA is boosting support for the MMFF 2025 by fully sponsoring all gala screenings and streamlining the lineup to eight entries to maximize box office earnings, aiming to surpass last year’s ₱800 million gross.
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