‘Indies’ so alive in MMFF; CinePhone deadline reset

MANILA, Philippines—The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has received a record-breaking number of entries for independent films, student short films and animated films.

A total of 18 full-features, 88 student shorts and 18 animation entries were submitted under the New Wave section of the MMFF, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the festival organizer.

The MMDA said only five full-length films, five student short films and five animation films would be chosen as finalists. The Top 5 full-lengths will be shown in at least 20 theaters in Metro Manila next year, while all finalists in the three categories will be shown from Dec. 17 to 24 at Glorietta 4 and SM Megamall theaters.

The Best Picture winner in the full-length category will receive a cash prize of P300,000, while the recipient of the Special Jury Award will get P200,000. The Best Picture in the student shorts category will get P50,000, while those who will be given special awards will get P25,000 each. A P100,000 prize awaits the best animated film.

Meanwhile, the MMDA extended to Nov. 7 the deadline for the submission of entries in the CinePhone Competition for movies made using cell phone cameras, which is open to high school and college students nationwide. This year’s CinePhone theme focuses on disaster recovery and rehabilitation. Kristine Felisse Mangunay