The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
by Boy Villasanta
One of the most awaited annual film festivals in the country is on.
Officially, the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival will start on December 19 when the Parade of Stars included in the eight official lineup kicks off at the Makati City grounds organized and sponsored by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Makati.
Unofficially, though, the activities related to each entry have started anytime soon after the first four selections and the final four choices were announced by the Selection Committee of the festival.
Press cons, multimedia campaigns, diverse promotional and merchandising stunts, traditional and digital announcements of the Magic 8 offerings etc. are underway to drumbeat their wares for public bidding and support.
Cinemas nationwide are prepped up for the assigned screening of respective films.
Touted as the “real” fiesta of quality entertainment, the 51st MMFF has eclectic genres to set on the viewing table of the audiences to choose from.
Various themes and topics are tackled in the eight movies, namely motherhood and gender liberation in Star Cinema, The IdeaFirst Company and Viva Films’ ” Call Me Mother” that stars Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Carmi Martin etc. directed by Jun Robles Lana; the freedom of a person to choice between single-blessedness and marriage in Quantum Films and Cineko Productions’ “Unmarry” that features Angelica Panganiban, Solenn Heussaf, Zanjoe Marudo etc. directed by Jeffrey Jeturian; the search for direction in life of the youth and how they affect peers and families in 901 Studios’ “Bar Boys: After School” that showcases Carlo Aquino. Kean Cipriano, Enzo Pineda, Rocco Nacino etc. directed by Kip Oebanda; the perennial battle between good and evil in Regal Entertainment’s “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” that presents Richard Gutierrez, Ara Mina, Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, Manilyn Reynes, Kaila Estrada, Carla Abellana, Matt Lozano, Loisa Andallo, Francine Diaz, Janice de Belen, Seth Fedelin etc. in their respective episodes directed by Shugo Praico (“1775”), Joey de Guzman (“2025”) and Ian Lorenos (“2050”); the elite force of the Manila police in their heydays and what price they have to pay for each mission in Cignal TV and Media Quest’s “Manila’s Finest” that top bills Piolo Pascual, Ashtine Olviga, Cedrick Juan, Enrique Gil etc. directed by Raymond Red; the world of special people with Down syndrome in Nathan Studios’ “I’m Perfect” that introduces non-actors Earl Jonathan Amaba and Anne Krystel Daphne Go etc. directed by Sigrid Andrea P. Bernardo; the multicolored romance in Star Cinema, GMA Pictures and Regal Entertainment’s “Love You So Bad” that puts together the acting talents of Will Ashley, Dustin Yu, Dimples Romana, Bianca de Vera etc. directed by Mae Cruz Alviar and the effects of an internet outage on families in Reality MM Studios’ “Rekonek” that highlights Gerald Anderson, Charlie Dizon, Zoren Legaspi, Andrea Brillantes, Carmina Villaroel, Mavy Legaspi, Gloria Diaz, Bela Padilla, Cassy Legaspi etc. directed by Jade Castro.
Which films, do you think, will rake in millions and billions at the box-office?
And who will win in the creative and technical divisions at the awards night?