By Noel D. Ferrer
The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) was created by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 1459, 1485, 1533, 1533-A, 1647 and MMC Executive Order No. 85-04 and 86-09 which declares an annual festival for the exclusive showing of Filipino films in movie theaters nationwide, free from foreign competition, from December 25 up to January 4 of the following year, being extended until January 7.
For 50 years this year , the festival has become a tradition for many Filipinos, who eagerly anticipate the screening of new and exciting films during the holiday season without competition from foreign titles.
On the onset, let me say that , the Metro Manila Film Festival is not an all-art film festival. Through the years, it has gone through several versions – until it maintained its UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION – which is being carried out by the present Executive Committee (Execom) – that, it is a film festival that caters to all the members of the Filipino family during the Christmas Season.
The Selection Committee makes sure we have a good mix of entries every year (at least since I got involved after the MMFF Reelvolution the Cinematic Revolution in 2016) – to feature films of different genres evaluated on a standard that balances film excellence and commercial viability.
So true to our objectives- the MMFF is here 1) to help in the promotion and development of the local film industry and 2) to raise revenues for its designated beneficiaries from the local movie industry.
Proceeds from the MMFF go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry such as the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The Christmas holiday is basically a Filipino tradition and this festival has become part of that very important and significant tradition in the entertainment, arts and culture sector. And as any tradition, we continue to strike that crucial task of seeking a balance between artistic excellence and commercial viability.
As long as the creative and critical artists and filmmakers and audiences are here, the MMFF will be an arena for collaboration and innovation.
During this 49th MMFF we said – Tara na, makisaya! And it seems like the industry had a blast with the total gross breaking into the 1 billion mark – the biggest since the pandemic. And with the extension, possibly the biggest in recent years.
All said…. the Metro Manila Film Festival is here to stay.
Indeed, with the MMFF, we are turning our goals into gold.
