MMFF 2023 Sets New Record with PHP 1.069 Billion Earnings

MANILA: The 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has set a new earnings record, garnering around PHP 1.069 billion from December 25, 2023, to January 7, surpassing the previous high achieved in 2018. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the festival, highlighting the robust interest in local cinema.

According to Philippines News Agency, the 2023 edition of MMFF has become the highest-grossing year for the festival. This success was achieved despite the festival’s 10 film entries being shown in 800 cinemas, fewer than the 1,200 cinemas in 2018, which earned PHP 1.061 billion. Artes noted that moviegoers not only watched multiple films but also revisited films repeatedly. He expressed hopes for sustaining this momentum beyond the festival and encouraged filmmakers to strive for quality movies throughout the year and for the upcoming 50th edition of MMFF.

Originally scheduled to conclude on January 7, the MMFF 2023 was extended for an additional week, until January 14. Artes attributed the festival’s success to the quality of films and the broader range of moviegoers targeted.

Following the MMFF, the committee’s focus will shift to the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), set to screen 10 films in Los Angeles, California, from January 29 to February 2. Winston Emano, MIFF consultant and spokesperson, mentioned that the event will feature gatherings and dialogues between Filipino and American celebrities, filmmakers, and scriptwriters. The goal is to facilitate an exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing, aiming to bridge the Philippine entertainment industry with Hollywood and the international stage.

The MIFF will also have its separate awards night, with a distinct panel of judges that may reach different conclusions from the MMFF’s ‘Gabi ng Parangal (awards night)’ held in December 2023. Additionally, the MMFF committee plans to host a student short film caravan, publish a coffee-table book, and present ‘Cine 50,’ a screening of the top 50 MMFF films from the past 49 years in select theaters, priced at only PHP 50.

Emano conveyed expectations of featuring larger and more impressive films for the festival’s 50th edition, celebrating the resurgence of cinema-goers’ interest in local movies.