Alden Richards-Sharon Cuneta, Marian Rivera-Dingdong Dantes films part of MMFF 2023

The Metro Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has already piqued the public’s interest as early as July after announcing the first four films that will be part of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Read: Here Are The Entries Of The First Summer MMFF

The top four scripts to be included in the film festival, which was announced on July 11, 2023, were selected based on the following criteria: artistic excellence (40%), commercial appeal (40%), Filipino cultural sensibility (10%), and global appeal (10%). 

“Ako naman kasi, hindi ho ako nagbabasa ng script pero sa nakita ko hong synopsis, title, ‘yung mga bida po na naka-indicate sa synopsis na nakita ko is satisfied naman po ako. 26 po ‘yan, marami pong magaganda,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes said after the announcement.

The acting chairman emphasized that they had chosen the best ones based on the script.

However he clarified, “Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na hindi po maganda ‘yung iba, pero maaaring hihintayin po natin ‘yung finished film kung sakali nilang gawin o i-submit.”

MMFF 2023 Entries

Here are the first four entries of MMFF 2023:

1. “A MOTHER AND SON’S STORY”

STARRING: Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards

GENRE: Drama

PRODUCER: Cineko Productions, Inc.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Enrico A. Rogue, Patrick F. Menses, Jacky Lim

DIRECTOR: Nuel Naval

SCRIPTWRITER: Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario

Synopsis: This drama film tells the story of Maricar whose world revolves around her son, Mateo, who she raised singlehandedly. When Mateo is moving to Singapore to pursue his career ambition and his girlfriend, he devised a plan to find a good man who can look after her mother while he is gone. At first, this made Maricar furious but eventually she saw the pure intention of her son. The separation and distance made Maricar discover her happiness outside her son. On the other hand, being away from Maricar made Mateo realize that truly home is where his heart is.

2. “(K)AMPON”

STARRING: Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay

GENRE: Horror Thriller

PRODUCER: Quantum Films

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Josabeth Alonso

DIRECTOR: King Palisoc

SCRIPTWRITER: Dodo Dayao

Synopsis: After 8 years of marriage, a childless couple named Clark and Eileen meet a little girl who one day, came knocking at their door claiming to be Clark’s child. Despite the unexpected situation, the wife accepts the child and temporarily fosters her while figuring the next steps. Meanwhile, Clark investigates the child’s history while Eileen begins to develop an odd and eerie relation with the child. Also strange occurrences happen around the couple’s life – with ominous voices, visions of death and rebirth and night stalkers, that all escalate the paranoia in the household. As the seemingly innocent child grows more fond of Eileen, Clark must decide between erasing his past to save his marriage or embracing the truth and the demons that come along with it.

3. “PENDUKO” 

STARRING: Cristine Reyes and Matteo Guidicelli

GENRE: Fantasy Action

PRODUCER: Sari Sari Network

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jane Basas

DIRECTOR & SCRIPTWRITER: Jason Paul Laxamana

Synopsis: This fantasy action film is the new film version of the iconic comic book character, Pedro Penduko, wherein he is the son of a philantrophic faith healer in the countryside. Yearning for a more modern and materialistic life, he runs away to the city. Unfortunately, he does not find the prosperity he yearns. Until he is recruited in an underground company called Hatinggabi, where people with supernatural gifts like Pedro are formally trained and sent to heal victims of sorcery in exchange for money. His new career, however, will lead him to an identity crisis that asks the question: Is his destiny to be a healer or a sorcerer?

4. “REWIND“

STARRING: Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes

GENRE: Romance Drama

PRODUCER: ABS-CBN FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Carlo L. Katigbak, Kriz Anthony G. Gazmen

DIRECTOR: Mae Cruz-Alviar

SCRIPTWRITER: Enrico Santos

Synopsis: This romance drama film is about a man who at a certain point in his life feels guilty of his life choices. All these after not being promoted in his work, being estranged from his father and son and a having a rocky marriage and then his wife dies in a car accident. One day he meets a man who offers him a once-in-a-lifetime deal — to rewind his life and correct all his mistakes and repair his relationship with his wife and family on one condition — he has to die in place of his wife. He believes the man to be Jesus. With everything to lose and to hope for, John rewinds his life and discovers that the true meaning of happiness comes from the thing he has taken for granted: LOVE.

Given the gradual resumption of face-to-face activities, MMDA is projecting that this year’s MMFF would surpass last year’s earnings.

“With these submissions po na 26, magaganda po ‘yung titles, magaganda rin po ‘yung artista. They’re projecting na mahi-hit namin ‘yung Php500 (million) and masu-surpass namin ‘yung previous year na Php500 (million). Nagpo-project naman sila na mas mataas ‘yung ating (earnings),” he said, 

The deadline for the finished film submission, where the other four official MMFF entries shall be chosen, will be September 29, 2023.

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