Filipino moviegoers are in for a treat on this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as a diverse range of films are set to premiere in local cinemas near you!
Eight films of different genres were finalized as entries of the 2019 competition, which will run from Christmas Day, December 25, up until the first week of January 2020.
To get you all up and excited for this year’s MMFF, we have rounded up the official trailers of each entry that will each intrigue you to watch all the movies this year! Which one do you think will be the top 3 box-office drawers this year? Which one do you think will take home many awards? Check out the trailers below!
MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7
Viva Films’ offering for this year’s MMFF is a Filipino adaptation of the award-winning Korean movie Miracle in Cell No. 7 which was originally premiered last 2013.
In the already tear-jerker of a trailer, Aga Muhlach gives life to the character of a mentally-challenged man named Joselito Gopez who is accused of sexually assaulting a little girl. As he gets arrested, he befriends his fellow inmates of different backgrounds who help him smuggle his daughter (Xia Vigor) in their cell so they can meet each other again.
Apart from Muhlach and Vigor, the film also stars John Arcilla, Joel Torre, Jojit Lorenzo, Mon Confiado, Soliman Cruz, JC Santos, and Bela Padilla. It is directed by Nuel C. Naval.
M&M: THE MALL, THE MERRIER
Under the collaboration of Star Cinema and Viva Films, M&M: The Mall, The Merrier features the powerhouse combination of blockbuster stars Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis.
The comedy film already gives us laughs and smiles as Moira (Vice Ganda) and Morissette (Curtis) take their differences as rival sisters over ownership of their family mall aside to take down their Aunt Moody (Dimples Romana) who plans to steal a magical book that brings elements from the mall to life so she can take over the world.
M&M: The Mall, The Merrier also features comedians MC Muah, Lassy Marquez, Chad Kinis, and Brenda Mage, along with hunk actor Tony Labrusca and child stars Carlo Mendoza and Miel Espinoza. It is helmed by Barry Gonzalez, the director of the 2018 Vice Ganda MMFF entry Fantastica.
3POL TROBOL HULI KA BALBON
From the production company that brought you Ang Panday in 2017, CCM Productions premieres 3Pol Trobol Huli Ka Balbon in the silver screens on Christmas Day.
Action star Coco Martin will direct the film, as well as playing the role of Pol, a cop who needs to prove his innocence after being framed for the murder of his boss. He has to go undercover as a woman to be able to speak to Trina (Jennylyn Mercado), his boss’ daughter and clear his name.
Joining the powerhouse cast is Ai-Ai Delas Alas and Sam Milby, among many others.
MISSION UNSTAPABOL: THE DON IDENTITY
APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions give us another Vic Sotto comedy film that adds a sprinkle of action to the mix.
The film follows Don Robert Fortun (Sotto) who sets his eyes on stealing the biggest pearl in the world, the Pearl of the Orient, to take revenge on his brother Don Benjie (Jose Manalo) who framed him for murder. After being released from prison, Don Robert gathers a team of thieves with different skillsets to turn his plan into action.
Joining Vic Sotto are Maine Mendoza, Pokwang, Jake Cuenca, and Wally Bayola. The movie is directed by Michael Tuveria.
CULION
After campaigning long and hard, the period film Culion has made its way as an entry in this year’s MMFF.
Written by legendary screenwriter Ricky Lee, the movie is set in the 1940s and follows three women, played by Iza Calzado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Meryll Soriano, who are all living with Hansen’s disease in the leper colony of Culion in Palawan.
Directed by Alvin Yapan and produced by Mark Shandii Bacolod, the film also stars Joem Bascon, Suzette Ranillo, Joel Saracho, Lee O’Brian, and, in a very special role, John Lloyd Cruz
MINDANAO
After making its international premiere at the 24th Busan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea, the latest creation of award-winning filmmaker Brillante Mendoza in the form of Mindanao is set to make its local premiere in the MMFF on Christmas Day.
It centers around Saima (Judy Ann Santos), a mother caring for her daughter Aisa (Yuna Tangog) who has been diagnosed with cancer and her husband Malang (Allen Dizon), a combat medic deployed in a civil conflict against rebel forces.
Joining Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon in the cast are Ketchup Eusebio, Epy Quizon, Ruby Ruiz, Richard Manabat, and Vince Rillon.
WRITE ABOUT LOVE
Crisanto Aquino, who has worked in films helmed by Olivia M. Lamasan, Chito Roño, Cathy Garcia-Molina, and Jerrold Tarog, makes his directorial debut with the TBA Studios film Write About Love in the 2019 MMFF.
The movie follows an aspiring writer (Miles Ocampo) and a seasoned scriptwriter (Rocco Nacino) who are forced to combine their skills to rewrite the script of an unfinished love story for it to become the next huge blockbuster film. Their film will have characters portrayed by actor Joem Bascon and musician Yeng Constantino.
This movie marks the first time Ocampo will headline a movie as a lead actress.
SUNOD
Quantum Films has entered the 2019 MMFF with its official entry, the horror film Sunod.
Olivia (Carmina Villaroel) works as a call center agent in a mysterious BPO company to afford the medical bills of her sick daughter. Things go awry when she experiences unexplainable ghostly encounters in her workplace.
Directed by Carlo Ledesma, this scary, hair-raising flick also stars Mylene Dizon and JC Santos.
