“Green Bones” Sweeps MMFF 2024, Expands to 180 Cinemas as Audiences Moved to Tears

GMA Pictures’ Green Bones, the gripping prison drama directed by Zig Dulay, swept the awards at the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), winning Best Picture and driving an overwhelming demand that led to a dramatic rise in screenings - jumping from 60 cinemas before the Gabi ng Parangal on December 27 to an impressive 180 cinemas to date.

This historic win marks history repeating itself for GMA Pictures, securing a back-to-back Best Picture victory following Firefly’s triumph in 2023. It harks back to the studio’s legendary feat 25 years ago, when Jose Rizal (1998) and Muro-Ami (1999) claimed consecutive MMFF top honors.

At the Gabi ng Parangal held at Solaire Resort, Green Bones clinched multiple prestigious awards:

Best Actor: Dennis Trillo 

Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid 

Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens 

Best Screenplay: Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza 

Best Cinematography: Neil Daza

Although Green Bones was the biggest winner at the 2024 MMFF, GMA Network Senior Vice President and GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Valdes shared the film’s coveted Best Picture award with the other nine movies in the festival. She recognized the dedication and passion everyone put in, stating, “To make a film, it takes blood, sweat, and tears, and resources. And talagang we really risked it all because we want to tell a story and I hope that people listen to all these wonderful, outstanding stories of these movies.”

The rousing success of Green Bones is a testament to GMA Pictures Executive Vice President Nessa Valdellon’s vision of showcasing the network’s homegrown talent on the big screen. While acting legend Dennis Trillo’s involvement is inevitable, Ruru Madrid’s casting was a risk. Despite years in television, Green Bones is the Sparkle star’s first major film role - a gamble that hugely paid off. Ruru’s skillful, heartfelt performance earned him Best Supporting Actor.

Critics and audiences alike have rallied behind Green Bones. The Manila Feed described it as an “MMFF 2024 Best Picture frontrunner” and “a film that moves the soul and reminds us of what truly matters,” with a perfect 5 out of 5 rating. LionhearTV and My Movie World echoed the same score, praising its story, direction, performances, and visuals. Influencer account Lakwatsera Lovers even gave it an 11/10, raving about its writing, cast, and director Zig Dulay.

The film was lauded by Manila Bulletin as a moving, timely story about “doing the right thing and the perseverance needed to be a good, righteous member of the human race,” while Rappler deemed it “raw yet controlled [...] a movie that will make you think, feel, and maybe even cry a little (or a lot).” The Manila Times has called it a masterpiece and an emotional tour de force, being “one of the finest films to grace the Metro Manila Film Festival in recent years […] an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.”

PhilStar highlighted Dennis Trillo’s “high-wire act” as the convicted killer Dom Zamora and his ability to bring complex roles to life with “pathos, clarity, and gravitas,” and commended Ruru Madrid, who played the hard-line, traumatized prison guard Xavier Gonzaga, for having “held his own” against his co-star and industry veterans, delivering a performance that made his role unforgettable and one he can truly take pride in. Child actor Sienna Stevens, who learned sign language for her key role with Dennis Trillo, garnered praise for her strong chemistry with him and her effective, dialogue-free performance, which won her the Best Child Performer award. Her fellow Sparkle artists Royce Cabrera and Mikoy Morales also received recognition for their convincing portrayals of incarcerated gay lovers, despite having limited screen time.

Audience members were captured in tears during screenings of Green Bones, unable to contain their emotions. Social media is flooded with glowing reactions. The popular Facebook page Mubi Rebyu, which ranked the film #1, described it as “may kabuluhan at di makakalimutan.” Screenwriter and National Artist Ricky Lee is receiving widespread praise for his enduring brilliance, with some even calling for the icon’s immortalization, and many agree that Zig Dulay deserves laurels for his consistent cinematic excellence.

With Green Bones, GMA Pictures once again proves that powerful, poignant stories - and daring casting choices - resonate deeply with audiences, solidifying its place as a force to reckon with in Philippine cinema.