Christmas is made even merrier with Sparkle artists taking center stage at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. As the festival rolls out nationwide, several Sparkle stars headline their own entries, showcasing a wide range of genres—from horror and romance to family drama.
Serving as the horror entry in the 51st MMFF lineup is Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, featuring Sparkle artists Ysabel Ortega, Dustin Yu, Ashley Ortega, Elijah Alejo, Matt Lozano, and Althea Ablan. Told across different timelines, the film unfolds three chilling stories: In 1775, during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, a group of nuns struggles to survive the night after an unknown evil is unleashed within their cloister. Fast forward to 2025, a murderous rampage on Halloween masquerade ball to a monstrous apocalypse in the future of 2050; the seventeenth installment of this horror franchise presents three stories of terror through every generation.
Meanwhile, fans of the 2017 film Bar Boys have more reason to celebrate as the long-awaited sequel, Bar Boys: After School, finally hits the big screen. Reprising their roles are the original four leads, Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano, and Kapuso actor Rocco Nacino, now joined by Sparkle artists Will Ashley, Glaiza De Castro, Therese Malvar, Royce Cabrera, and Bryce Eusebio.
Set ten years after the first film, Erik, Chris, Josh, and Torran grapple with midlife struggles like burnout, heartbreak, and a loss of direction. When they learn that their former mentor, Justice Hernandez, is gravely ill, the friends reunite to care for her. Along the way, they confront their past choices, rediscover their ideals, and find renewed purpose as mentors to the next generation.
Adding warmth to the festival lineup is the family-oriented film Rekonek, which follows six Filipino families on Christmas Eve when a worldwide internet outage forces them to reconnect without screens through more traditional and meaningful ways.
Joining the cast are Kapuso stars Zoren, Carmina, Mavy, and Cassy of the Legaspi family. Continuing his MMFF streak, Kokoy De Santos returns this year with Rekonek alongside fellow Sparkle artists Angel Guardian, Kelvin Miranda, and Prince Carlos.
The era of loveteams makes a strong comeback with Love You So Bad. The film follows Savannah, a sassy, confident college senior determined to live life on her own terms. Caught between two very different men, the reckless bad boy L.A., who fuels her wild side, and the principled and ambitious Vic, who pushes her to grow, Savannah must confront old wounds and make difficult choices about who she wants to be and who she dares to love. Straight from their successful Pinoy Big Brother stint, Bianca de Vera, Dustin Yu, and Will Ashley take the lead in this film bringing their chemistry and charm to the screen. Joined by their fellow PBB housemate and Sparkle actor, Vince Maristela.
Another MMFF film that is sure to be emotion-packed is Call Me Mother, a film that offers a powerful reminder of a mother’s love in all its forms. Starring Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, and Lucas Andalio, the story follows Twinkle, a single queer mother whose dream of officially adopting her son is shaken when the boy’s biological mother, Mara, unexpectedly returns.
Also part of the cast is Sparkle actress Bianca Manalo with the former PBB housemates and Sparkle stars Mika Salamanca and Shuvee Etrata joining the ensemble.
This Christmas, as the MMFF lights up theaters, Sparkle artists take pride in showcasing their best work on the big screen.
