The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will have a summer edition to be held in April, after wrapping up a successful film festival last December.
The film festival will be held on April 11 to 21 and will feature eight official entries to be chosen by the same MMFF selection committee, and the films will be played in theaters all over the country.
Movies that didn’t make the cut during the 45th MMFF will also be shown during the summer film festival.
Reports also said that film producers who entered last December no longer have to pay an entry fee but will have to submit a letter of intent.
“We are hoping na sana makatulong ulit sa industriya (to help the industry). We are not expecting P1 billion [in terms of gross sales] pero at least kalahati (but at least half or) P500 million. It will really help the industry ng pelikulang Pilipino (of Filipino films). ‘Yun naman ang purpose natin sa talaga sa (That is really the purpose of) MMFF, to help the industry,” said MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia.
The MMFF committee will also accept finished film entries for the full-length category until February 15.
The 11-day period summer film festival will also hold a Parade of Stars on April 5 and an awards night on April 15.
The second film festival, dubbed as the Metro Manila Summer Film Festival, was proposed by new executive committee member Senator Bong Go and will be held twice annually starting the year 2020.
The executive committee of the previous 45th film festival held last December announced that it has reached a total of P995 million in ticket sales which are mostly from the eight entries, “Miracle in Cell No. 7 (Viva Films),” “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity (APT Entertainment),” “The Mall, the Merrier (Star Cinema and Viva Films),” and “3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon! (CCM Production).”