From September 25 to October 15, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will screen beloved past entries in theaters across the Philippines, with tickets priced at only P50 per film. This initiative, known as ‘Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta,’ is in celebration of MMFF’s 50th anniversary.
The MMFF has announced a complete list of 50 classic films that will be shown during the festival. The announcement was made through a series of Facebook posts, presenting the films in batches. Batch 1 includes titles such as ‘Insiang,’ ‘Mano Po,’ ‘Jose Rizal,’ ‘Crying Ladies,’ and ‘Ang Panday’ (1980), among others. Meanwhile, Batch 2 will feature ‘Ang Panday’ (2009), ‘Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,’ ‘Walang Forever,’ and ‘The Moises Padilla Story,’ to name a few.
In addition, Batch 3 comprises ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll II,’ ‘Atsay,’ ‘Mga Bilanggong Birhen,’ and ‘Kung Mawawala Ka Pa.’ Notably, ‘Die Beautiful’ and ‘Agila ng Maynila’ will also be screened. Batch 4 brings ‘Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2,’ ‘Brutal,’ ‘Markova,’ and ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7.’ The first installment of ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll,’ ‘Darna’ (1991), and ‘Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing’ are other highlights.
Finally, Batch 5 includes ‘Bonifacio ang Unang Pangulo,’ ‘Karma,’ ‘One More Try,’ and ‘Imortal.’ The compelling lineup continues with ‘Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo,’ ‘Okay Ka Fairy Ko,’ and ‘Yamashita the Tiger’s Treasure.’ The inclusion of ‘Gandarrapido Revenger Squad,’ ‘Feng Shui II,’ and ‘Rainbow’s Sunset’ further enriches the selection.
On April 5, MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes disclosed the official calendar for the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival. To mark this significant milestone, the decision was made to forgo the Summer Festival and instead focus on celebrating the anniversary with remarkable events. ‘Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta,’ a key highlight of the festival, is a collaborative effort involving the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Mowelfund, and the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP). This collective initiative aims to bring classic MMFF films to cinemas nationwide.
Moreover, the MMFF Student Short Film Caravan will make a return for this year’s festival, offering workshops to students interested in filmmaking. The City of Manila will host the event, taking charge of the planning and execution of the highly-anticipated Parade of Stars. Building on last year’s expansion to a ten-film lineup, the 50th edition of MMFF will premier 10 films in its main competition. The first five official entries for MMFF 2024 have already been announced, including Jun Robles Lana’s ‘And The Breadwinner Is,’ Zig Dulay’s ‘Green Bones,’ Kerwin Go’s ‘Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital,’ Pepe Diokno’s feature adaptation of ‘Himala: Isang Musical,’ and Michael Tuveira’s family-drama ‘The Kingdom.’
The ‘Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta’ festival offers a treasured opportunity to revisit some of the Philippines’ most beloved cinema. With tickets priced affordably, audiences nationwide can experience the legacy of MMFF’s rich history, making it a fitting celebration of its 50th anniversary.
Source: Rappler