MMFF 2020 to Push Through Online Amid The Pandemic

October 23, 2020

John Lester Rimorin

The Metro Manila Film Festival 2020 is going digital for the first time, as announced by the executive committee last October 8.

According to committee spokesperson Noel Ferrer, the organizers will be partnered with a “worldwide streaming service,” which has yet to be announced to bring this year’s festival to computer screens within and outside of the country.

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TULOY ANG METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL 2020! Yan ang napagdesisyunan sa katatapos pa lang na meeting ng Metro Manila Film Festival, na talagang well-attended at puno ng good vibes. Sa pangunguna ni Tita Boots Anson Rodrigo, nag-alay ang grupo ng dasal at commendation sa mga yumaong EXECOM members na sina Manay Ichu Vera Perez-Maceda at si Atty Rolando Duenas. Pinakamalaking balita na magiging ONLINE na ang MMFF sa taong ito at i-aannounce sa susunod na mga araw ang magiging ka-partner na worldwide streaming service ng mga entries ensuring that the biggest, the most popular and the longest running Filipino film festival will be happening everywhere – recreating happy traditions, and experiencing MMFF beyond-the-movies – together with the whole family. Nakaka-excite nga ito dahil ultimo ang President ng Cinemalaya Foundation na si Direk Laurice Guillen ay kumbinsido sa nakuhang malawakang streaming partner ng MMFF – baon ang mahahalagang learning nila sa nakaraang online Cinemalaya. But here are some important announcements sa mga gustong sumali pa sa mga finished film entries. Acknowledging the challenges ng film shooting ngayon, the deadline for finished film submission is moved from October 15 to NOVEMBER 15. Samantalang ang finished films based on the approved scripts ay may bagong deadline from Oct 31 to NOVEMBER 30. This will give producers and filmmakers more time na puliduhin pa ang kanilang mga entries. Magandang balita rin na WAIVED na ang mga entry fees ng mga isinubmit for consideration sa MMFF Summer Festival. They just have to fill out the forms for resubmission. Dahil sa ONLINE distribution – mas maraming Pilipino ang makakapanood ng mga pelikula -pero isang major na kunsiderasyon ang pag-iwas sa piracy na natugunan naman ng magiging partner ng MMFF at i-aannounce sa mga darating na araw!!! Tuloy ang Pasko at tuluy na tuloy ang MMFF ngayong Pasko!!! Magkikita-kita tayo ONLINE!!! #MMFF2020Updates #PEPAlerts #PEPTroika

A post shared by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer) on Oct 8, 2020 at 2:37am PDT

It is to adapt to the changing film landscapes caused by the pandemic as major film festivals in the country, like Cinemalaya, and abroad have already shifted to the virtual world.

The executive committee has yet to decide the festival’s opening date. But they are thinking of opening it as early as December 19 and thinking of streaming all the film entries for almost three weeks.

The deadline for the submission of finished film entries has also moved from October 15 to November 15, Sunday, not later than 5 PM, as the MMFF committee acknowledged the challenges and constraints that our filmmakers are facing in creating films due to strict health measures and quarantine lockdown of the government.

MMFF is traditionally held in December, which aims to showcase our Filipino filmmakers’ brilliant works, with no foreign films being shown in cinemas throughout the festival.

Last July 17, MMFF had announced the first four entries that will compete for the highly coveted festival trophies.

The four films are:

1. Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan

Production: Regal Entertainment, Inc.

Genre: Horror

Lead Actor: Joshua Garcia

Lead Actress: Angie Ferro

Director: Chito Roño

Scriptwriter: Bob Ong

2. Magikland

Production: Brightlight Leisure Productions Inc./Gallaga Reyes Films

Genre: Fantasy Adventure Film