A Guide to the MMFF 2021 Official 8 Movie Entries

The annual gathering of the biggest, high caliber Filipino films happens again this Christmas Day as the official 8 movie entries to the highly-anticipated Metro Manila Film Festival open in theaters nationwide.

This year, MMFF 2021 will showcase a diverse line-up of eight movies, ranging from social drama, horror, action, suspense, romance, to comedy horror.

They are (in no particular order):

1.“Big Night” 

Starring Christian Bables, directed by Jun Robles Lana 

Production: Cignal Entertainment, Ideafirst Company, Octobertrain Films, and Quantum Films

2. “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (Whether The Weather Is Fine)” 

Starring Daniel Padilla and Charo Santos directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad

3. "Love At First Stream" 

Starring Anthony Jennings, Jeremiah Lisbo, Daniela Stranner, Kaori Oinuma 

Production: ABS CBN Films Productions, Kwentolabs, Inc.

4. “A Hard Day” 

Starring Dingdong Dantes and John Arcilla, directed by Lawrence Fajardo 

Production: Viva Films

Click HERE

5. "Huling Ulan sa Tag-Araw" 

Starring Ken Chan and Rita Daniela directed by Louie Ignacio 

Production: Heaven's Best Entertainment

6. “Huwag Kang Lalabas” 

Starring Kim Chiu, Beauty Gonzales, Aiko Melendes, directed by Adolf Alix Jr.

7. "Nelia" 

Starring WynWyn Marquez, Raymond Bagatsing, directed by Lester Dimaranan 

Production: A and Q Production Films

8. "The Exorsis" 

Starring Toni and Alex Gonzaga directed by Fifth Solomon 

Production: TinCan

The eight official entries have been selected out of 19 finished films that were evaluated. The entries were chosen based on the following criteria: Artistic Excellence – 40%; Commercial Appeal – 40%; Filipino Sensibility – 10% and Global Appeal – 10%.

MMDA and MMFF concurrent Chairman Benhur Abalos urged the public to be one with the Filipino entertainment industry and the other stakeholders to make MMFF 2021 and the reopening of theaters a success.

"The long wait is over. There is no stopping the Metro Manila Film Festival. We are bringing back the MMFF to the silver screens that have been shut down for almost two years due to the coronavirus pandemic." he said.

Abalos added that the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Trade and Industry have set guidelines to ensure that cinemas adhere to all the safety protocols as "we are still facing threats of COVID-19 despite the easing of restrictions."

The MMFF is an annual event held every Christmas organized primarily to promote and enhance the preservation of the Philippine cinema. Proceeds from the film festival go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry.