MANILA, Philippines—A New Era of Philippine Cinema is 2025’s theme for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 initiated by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Makati Local Government Unit (LGU), was held Tuesday, July 8, at the Activity Center of Glorietta 3’s Activity Center, Palm Drive, Makati City.
Photo by Jed Macaraya.
During the event, the previous official entries of MMFF 2024 were all awarded with PhilPost’s framed commemorative stamps. All the winners last year also received their respective prizes via mock checks, which bear the corresponding amount of cash prizes.
The mayor-elect Nancy Binay officially opened the occasion by affirming their support of the agency’s thrust in cultivating arts and culture through the films it produces yearly and for 51 years.
Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay officially opened this year’s festival. The image is a screenshot from the streamed video during the event on Tuesday afternoon.
MMDA chair and concurrent MMFF chair Atty. Don Artes also gave his openng remarks. The image is a screenshot from the streamed video during the event on Tuesday afternoon.
Since the sudden absence of Klarisse De Guzman as a performer, the Big Four males of PBB Celebrity Collab: River Joseph, Esnyr, Ralph de Leon, and Brent Manalo made their appearance and did a production number that thrilled the crowd in the mall.
The PBB Celebrity Collab Male Top Four performed instead of Klariesse De Guzman. The image is a screenshot from the streamed video during the event on Tuesday afternoon.
During this time, the first batch of four official entries were announced.
The first four MMFF 2025 official entries are the following:
CALL ME MOTHER
Production: ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., The Ideafirst Company, and Viva Communications, Inc.
Director: Jun Robles Lana
Scriptwriters: Daisy G. Cayanan, Daniel S. Saniana, and Jun Robles Lana
Stars: Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre
REKONEK
Production: Reality MM Studios
Director: Jade Castro
Scriptwriters: Jericho Aguado, Leovic Arceta, and Kat Naval
Stars: Carmina Villaroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson, and Zoren Legaspi
MANILA’S FINEST
Production: Cignal TV, Inc.
Director: Rae Red
Scriptwriters: Michiko Yamamoto, Moira Lang, Sherad Anthony Sanchez
Stars: Piolo Pascual
SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL EVILO ORIGINS
Production: Regal Entertainment, Inc.
Directors: Shugo Praico, Joey De Guzman, and Ian Loreños
Scriptwriters: Alex Castor, Onay Sales, and Gina Marissa Tagasa
Stars: Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, Loisa Andallo, Ashley Ortega, Ysabel Ortaga,
Elijah Alejo, Carla Abellana, Marilyn Reynes, Janice de Belen, Francine Diaz, Kaila Estrada, Richard Gutierrez, Ryan Bang, Seth Fedelin, JM Ibarra and Dustin Yu
The tandem of Enchong Dee and Jervi ‘Kaladkaren’ Wrightson hosted the grand launch. The image is a screenshot from the streamed video during the event on Tuesday afternoon.
Apart from the opening of the MMFF51 movie entries’ screening on December 25th, other highlights the public can watch out for are as follows: the announcement of the remaining four official movie entries is September 30. The grand media conference for MMFF51 is on October 30, while December 19 and December 27 will be the Parade of Stars and the Gabi ng Parangal to be hosted by Jervi ‘Kaladkaren’ Wrightson and Enchong Dee.
The MMDA has spearheaded the MMFF for 51 years now. Every year, the festival honors and showcases the Filipino world-class artistry. All entries are chosen based on Filipino sensibility, character, and culture.
Writer-Editor-Facilitator, Creative Strategist-Marketer, Publicist and PR Practitioner. Publisher and Netrepreneur.
Currently, he writes for BroadwayWorld.com Philippines and for an upcoming TV and movie guide called SYNOPSIS magazine.
Apart from being a writer, he facilitates writing workshops, and does consulting for creative marketing strategies and PR work.
