Palace urges public to support 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival

MANILA —  Malacañang encouraged the public Sunday to support the eight movies officially lined up for the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) during its two-week run in theaters nationwide from December 25 to January 8.

“Nananawagan tayo sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga naninirahan sa Metro Manila, na tangkilikin at panoorin ang mga pelikulang kalahok sa 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival (We are calling out to everyone, especially those living in Metro Manila, to support and watch the movies included in the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told Radyo ng Bayan.

The MMFF is an annual celebration of locally produced films backed by the government through the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to foster Philippine culture through the art of filmmaking.

Two films starring President Benigno S. Aquino III’s sister and nephew, television personality Kris Aquino and her son James ‘Bimby’ Yap, Jr., are among those included in the list of official entries this year.

Kris Aquino stars in Feng Shui 2, the sequel to her 2004 hit horror movie, while her son appears alongside comedian Vice Ganda in The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, also a sequel to the latter’s hit comedy back in 2011.

Other films competing in this year’s festival include Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, English Only Please, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles, Muslim Magnum.357 (To Serve and Protect), My Big Bossing, and Shake, Rattle, and Roll XV.

Apart from these big-budget movies starring popular actors, Coloma urged the public to also see some of the so-called ‘indie’ films currently playing in selected cinemas as part of the MMFF’s ‘new wave’ category. These are Gemini, M (Mother’s Maiden Name), Magkakabaung, Maratabat, and Mulat.

Coloma said these independently produced films are equally worth watching as they are borne out of the creative pursuits of talented actors and directors.

“Itaguyod po natin ang pelikulang Pilipino. Mahalaga po ito sa pagtataguyod ng ating kultura na sumasalamin sa kadakilaan ng ating bansa (Let’s support Filipino movies. This is important in empowering our culture that reflects the greatness of our country),” Coloma said.