‘Sistera’-cash: Film fest ticket sales up 21 percent

The recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival reaped.

P768.8 million in gross ticket sales, 21 percent higher than last year’s box office earnings, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino, concurrent head of the MMFF Executive Committee, said proceeds from the 38th MMFF will go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry, such as the Mowelfund, Film Academy of the Philippines, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Optical Media Board, and Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Part of the proceeds will also be donated to the victims of Typhoon “Pablo” in Compostela Valley and Negros Oriental, he said in a statement on Thursday.

“Sisterakas” topped the box office with gross ticket sales of P342 million, followed by “One More Try” which earned P170.5 million.

“Si Agimat, Si Enteng, at Si Ako” (P133.5 million) and “Shake, Rattle, and Roll 14” (P45.3 million) also made it to the Top 4.

Completing the lineup are “El Presidente,” “The Strangers,” “Sosy Problems,” and “Thy Womb,” whose ticket sales were not disclosed in the MMDA statement.

“Sisterakas” also set new records in the local film history, the MMDA said.

The comedy film starring Kris Aquino had the biggest opening day earnings for a local movie with P39 million and also the highest box office sales for a local film.

It also ranked fourth in all-time Philippine total ticket sales for 2012, behind Hollywood action blockbusters “The Avengers,” “Spiderman 3,” and “Transformers.”

Apart from the mainstream MMFF, the New Wave Section, which ran from December 18 to 24 at Glorietta Cinemas, also fared well. It featured five independent feature films and 10 student short films.

“We are optimistic that we can duplicate the feat for this year’s MMFF, if not surpass it, with the participation of the movie producers who will showcase quality films and the support of the movie-going public,” Tolentino said. Jodee A. Agoncillo