The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Apparently, the quality component in the current lineup to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival has improved compared to the selection in the past editions when critics and non-critics alike—which included this writer as an ordinary moviegoer—would complain about the poor quality of some of the entries.
In the present eclectic menu, the films are indeed proudly festival worthy.
Not only are they promoted and marketed to be highly qualified audio-visual treats from the glossy posters to the contents of each of the titles, the reviews the entire list has been generating are guaranteed enough to be consistently worthwhile viewing.
By the names of the director and the writer alone of their respective entries, one can gauge, at least, a concerted effort to create a better and notable watching fare not only infusing artistic values but entertaining pursuits as well. Although, it’s not a full guarantee that an overrated or award-winning filmmaker can make a sensible project but the built-in creative power is naturally vested in the production. An underrated director or writer, or better still, an independent filmmaker, can also unleash amazing results both at the art house and at the tills
Consider the nature of each film: GMA Pictures’ “Green Bones” directed by Zig Dulay and written by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricardo Lee, better known as Ricky Lee and Anj Atienza. Zig, awarded film artist and maker of last year’s MMFF no-nonsense Film “Firefly,” has been heralded as the leader of the new wave of filmmakers. Dulay is a name to reckon with in the advent of indie spirit but he has pivoted not just in the non-studio productions but in big-budgeted film and television outfits such as GMA Network. Ricky Lee isn’t a prizewinning screenwriter for nothing while Anj has twenty year-experience in broadcasting and journalism;
Mentorque Productions’ “Univited” directed by Dan Villegas and written by Dodo Dayao. Dan has been writing, directing and producing quality films and TV shows. His “Mayohan” as a debut masterpiece was chosen as one of the ten official entries to the 2010 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and made a mark at the occasion. Dodo as a writer is no mean artist;
M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment and MediaQuest Ventures’ “The Kingdom” directed by Michael Tuviera and written by Michelle Ngu and Tuviera. Michael has been doing excellently produced movies like “The Janitor,” “Imagine You and Me” etc. and Ngu is a noted writer to watch;
Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company’s “And the Breadwinner is…” directed by Jun Robles Lana who co-wrote it with Daisy Cayanan and Jonathan Albano. Jun is an established, heavyweight literary and plastic artist and getting Cayanan and Albano as his fellow writers in the film is an extension of his wisdom and judiciousness as the captain of the ship;
Nathan Films’ “Topakk” directed by Richard Somes who co-wrote the screenplay with Jimmy Flores and Will Fredo. If the aesthetic hearts and minds of Somes, Flores and Fredo are combined, an opus is mounted. Will, for one, is also a good and dependable producer and director;
Regal Entertainment’s “My Future You” directed and written by Crisanto Aquino. Aquino the auteur is an exceptional artist who excels in anything just given the chance;
Viva Films and Ninuno Media’s “Hold Me Close” directed and written by Jason Paul Laxamana. Another auteur who deserves and continuously getting public patronage because of his hip and meaningful screen outputs;
Reality MM Studio’s “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital” directed by Kerwin Go who co-wrote the script with Dustin Celestino and Leovic Arcete. The mix of these creative talents makes a must-see movie project;
Kapitol Films, CreaZion Studios and Unitel Straight Shooters Media’s “Isang Himala” directed by Pepe Diokno who co-wrote the screenplay with Ricky Lee. Pepe has been credited as a meritorious filmmaker ever since he made the 2009 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival award-winning piece “Engkuwentro” and
Quantum Films, Cineko Productions and Purple Bunny Productions’ “Espantaho” directed by Chito S. Rono from the script of Chris Martinez. A veteran helmer Rono and a relatively young filmmaker Martinez when joint forces could make a difference.
The actors and technical crew involved in these films are competent and professional all the way so it’s easy to say that from the looks of it, this year’s MMFF is a standout in all the past fiestas of Filipino films except in the mid-70s when Lino Brocka, Celso Ad. Castillo, Eddie Romero, Ishmael Bernal, Mike de Leon, among others were entered as A-lister filmmakers to the fest to produce the Second Golden Age of Philippine cinema.
Meantime, on the box-office side, there’s no official returns yet released by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as of presstime but there are unofficial tally from independent monitoring agencies which are mostly estimates. Here’s the Top 3—1) “And the Breadwinner is…” 2) “The Kingdom” 3) “Isang Himala.”
The 2024 MMFF runs until tomorrow, January 7, 2025.
***
Meanwhile, during the annual Villasanta Clan Reunion which this columnist helped organize last Rizal Day, December 30, 2024, award-winning actor Phillip Salvador surprised everyone when he showed up unceremoniously during the middle part of the occasion.
Phillip travelled all the way from Manila, more than three hundred kilometers away, to reach Mom’s Backyard events place in Lopez, Quezon.
The Villasantas had the field day taking selfies and groufies with the actor who was willing to be shot and celebrated with the clan.
After a few minutes, Ipe went back to Manila to attend another family reunion in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.