On Sunday, December 26, Christmas day was the revelation for director Noel Ferrer to say that Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries have been the choice of moviegoers to watch.
MJ Felipe of ABS-CBN reported earlier on December 25 that MMFF’s first day was not a hit because of the still ongoing pandemic added by the rainy weather.
Ferrer agreed with the reporting but insisted that it was better than last year’s earnings of less than P50 million.
“In fact, the first-day gross alone this year covered 1/3 of the total MMFF Online gross (in its entire run) last year,” he said.
“Cinemas Operators mismo ang nagsabi na kahit nauna nang naiulat na matumal at hindi tulad ng pre-pandemic proportions ang mga tao, ‘yung December 25 opening pa rin ang highest grossing day nila since they re-opened kahit may pandemic.”
Ferrer stated that even international films such as Marvel’s Eternals could not accumulate what MMFF films have garnered.
“NOT EVEN THE BIG HOLLYWOOD FILMS (like ETERNALS) are able to approximate the gross that MMFF 2021 has generated so far,” Ferrer proudly wrote.
The director showed his appreciation to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for reviving the movie industry.
“The fact na nakapag-MMFF tayo despite the pandemic ay isang malaking achievement na at magandang unang hakbang sa pagbabalik ng kumpiyansa ng mga tao at producers na nandito tayo na nakasuporta sa industriyang naipatigil, naisantabi at hindi itinuring na “essential” ng halos dalawang taon.
