With the themes of this year's entries ranging from human rights and OFWs, to beauty pageants and college kilig, the Metro Manila Film Festival has stepped up to the plate, giving moviegoers diverse, deeper in essence, and in turn, more quality, films. Bad news though, because the MMFF has been shortened by four days, so you better catch the movies ASAP.
We've put together a guide to help you in navigating this much more exciting edition of the festival:
1. Vince, Kath, and James
Producer: Star Cinema
Director: Theodore Boborol
Main Stars: Julia Barretto, Ronnie Alonte, Joshua Garcia
The story: While Kath (Barretto) hates everything about Vince (Garcia), James (Alonte) convinces Vince to talk to Kath through text messages, sparking a digital love story between them.
Watch it with: Your college crush, to relive those kilig moments.
2. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #Foreverisnotenough
Producer: Martinez Rivera Films, Quantum Films, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films, MJM Production
Director: Marlon Rivera
Main Stars: Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Khalil Ramos, and Cai Cortez
The story: Go on a rollercoaster ride as Eugene Domingo (as herself) defines and redefines love (in the script) in her attempts to make her latest project called The Inenerary a blockbuster hit.
Watch it with: Your laugh trip buddies, and also those who are fans of Domingo's award-winning comedic work.
3. Sunday Beauty Queens
Producer: Voyage Studios, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films
Director: Babyruth Villarama Gutierrez
Main Stars: Hazel Perdido, Cherrie Mae Bretana, Mylyn Jacobo, Leo Selomenio, Rudelyn Acosta
The story: Documenting the lives of overseas workers in Hong Kong for four years, this film presents the chronicles of struggles and victories they face leading to their participation in a local beauty pageant.
Watch it with: Your OFW relatives spending Christmas in the Philippines.
4. Die Beautiful
Producer: October Train Films and The Idea First Company
Director: Jun Robles Lana
Main Stars: Paolo Ballesteros, Joel Torre, Gladys Reyes, Luis Alandy, Albie Casiño, Iza Calzado
The story: As Trisha (Ballesteros) is given a burial fit for a queen, her friends look back on her life as a transgender.
Watch it with: Your beshies and LGBT friends who are avid fans of beauty pageants.
5. Saving Sally
Producer: Rocketsheep Studios
Director: Avid Liongoren
Main Stars: Rhian Ramos, Enzo Marcos
Short Description: Comic book artist Marty (Marcos) has to combat various animated anomalies, which include monsters, in order to win the heart of Sally (Ramos), the girl of his dreams.
Watch it with: Your BFF who has been with you through the good and bad times.
6. Kabisera
Producer: Firestarters Productions, Silver Story Production
Director: Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido
Main Stars: Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, JC De Vera, Luis Alandy, Jason Abalos, RJ Agustin
The story: Witness the journey of a normal family (Aunor and Davao) as they try to deal with the various dangers in their lives after being involved in crime and extrajudicial killings.
Watch it with: Your friends to (hopefully) settle your political differences.
7. Oro
Producer: Feliz Film Productions
Director: Alvin Yapan
Main Stars: Irma Adlawan, Mercedes Cabral, and Joem Bascom
The story: Small-scale miners clash with anti-mining environmentalists who want to stop their livelihood. Because of this, the community, led by their barangay captain (Adlawan), fight their way back to maintain their way of life.
Watch it with: Your environmentalist and anti-mining friends, to understand why it's hard for mining communities to lose their livelihood.
8. Seklusyon
Producer: Reality Entertainment
Director: Erik Matti
Main Stars: Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espano, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Dominic Roque, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales
The story: Deacons who are spending the last days of their training have to deal with a malevolent entity that disturbed the peace inside the convent where they are staying.
Watch it with: Your ka-barkada who has a thing for horror movies and anything supernatural-related.
ALSO READ: Hot Stuff: 5 Reasons Why We're So Excited About MMFF Entry "Vince, Kath, And James"
Banner photograph from the "Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #Foreverisnotenough" official movie poster.