IT’S A virtual showdown of stars in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
Bayani Fernando, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which spearheads the film fest, describes this year’s event as the “most star-studded in years.”
He dubbed it “the blockbuster festival” because of the crowd drawers who would compete at the box office when the MMFF kicks off in December.
Among the big stars with entries are Dolphy and Willie Revillame in “Juan”; Sharon Cuneta in “Mano Po 6”; Bong Revilla in “Panday”; Vic Sotto in “Ang Darling Kong Aswang”; and Manny Pacquiao in “Wapakman.”
Boxing champ Pacquiao’s leading lady in the science-fiction flick is Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger.
The other top draws with entries are Ruffa Gutierrez in “Shake, Rattle & Roll 11”; Kris Aquino in “Ikaw na Nga”; and Marian Rivera in “Nieves.”
It’s also a smackdown between the country’s two leading networks which both have entries this year.
GMA Films, in partnership with Imus Productions, fielded “Panday” -- a retelling of the mythical hero tale immortalized by the late Fernando Poe Jr.
ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema came up with “Ikaw Na Nga” -- a drama-comedy about a teenager who discovers that she has three mothers.
It’s a battle of the noontime giants as well, as Sotto of “Eat Bulaga” will square off with Revillame of “Wowowee.”
Based on the eight selected film projects, comedy and fantasy were still the most popular genres.
Sotto’s entry “Darling” is about a reluctant vampire who falls for a half-breed manananggal -- think of a local “Twilight” spoof.
Dolphy’s movie “Juan” is about a bodabil veteran who reunites with family and friends through a TV show.
Pacquiao’s “Wapakman” flick combines science fiction and slapstick, as the athlete plays an ordinary dad who becomes a superhero.
Two popular franchises from Regal are also back this year.
“Shake, Rattle & Roll 11” is a horror trilogy that consistently figures as among the fest’s front-runners at the tills. Another tested franchise is “Mano Po 6,” an epic Chinese-Filipino family drama.
Regal’s third entry in the fest, “Nieves,” is a co-production with APT Entertainment, the same company behind Eat Bulaga. “Nieves,” which is a spin-off of last year’s “Shake X,” features another Kapuso star, Rivera, in a stellar role as a provincial lass who battles elementals.
Fernando says that with its all-star lineup, the MMFF, now on its 35th year, hopes to reach its target of P500 million in box office earnings for its beneficiaries: the Movie Workers’ Welfare Fund, Film Academy of the Philippines, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Optical Media Board, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council; and the President’s Social Fund.
The film projects were selected based on a criteria that put a premium on commercial viability, creativity and Filipino cultural values, says screening committee chairperson Julie Borje.
