The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the annual Filipino movie festival that features local films starting every 25th of December, until the second week of January. It became part of the Christmas traditions as it builds quality time for families and groups of friends.
Over the decades, Filipinos have witnessed how local films have evolved through watching MMFF movies. As the MMFF films move forward, many forget or are unaware of its roots and history.
The birth of the Manila film festival
The Filipino film festival commenced in 1966 under the former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas. During that time, the Manila City government aimed to include local films in the “first run” theatres, which were occupied by American movies.
The film festival was held every June 14 to June 24, in celebration of Manila, ‘s anniversary.
Daigdig ng mga Api (1966) is one of the Manila film festival’s first films, which also bagged several Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) awards such as Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert Arevalo) and Best Actress (Barbara Perez).
The local film festival was halted during the Martial Law in 1973 amid its flourishing.
MFF: The re-establishment
The local film fest returned in 1974 when Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Proclamation No. 1459, which named the Manila-based film fest as the “Metropolitan Film Festival” (MFF) on July 9, 1975.
The said proclamation aims to promote “moral regeneration, social development, and cultural reawakening in the New Society,” through film.
The MFF serves as a tool for showcasing the Philippine progress under President Marcos Sr.’s governance.
The film that will win the Best Picture will receive the “Dangal ng Bagong Lipunan” award, as recognition of its exceptional contribution to the New Society.
MFF film viewings extended to the theatres outside of the county’s capital in its re-establishment.
The Metro Manila Film Festival
The MFF was renamed as “Metro Manila Film Festival” in 1977, which is being used up to the present.
The death of the Former Manila Mayor Villegas in 1984, inspired the creation of the “Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award” in 1990, which awards the “best film that portrays Philippine culture and Filipino people to the world.”
The film “Andrea, Paano Ba Ang Maging Isang Ina?” claimed the first Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award in the same year.
The MMFF has produced many actors, actresses, and people in film productions who gained phenomenal awards and recognition. Some of them became national artists because of their outstanding crafts in the film industry.
Several MMFF notable winners are the veterans Eddie Garcia, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Dolphy, Lino Brocka, Joel Lamangan, Maricel Soriano, and Amy Austria.
Over time, MMFF films are becoming accessible not only nationwide but even worldwide.
This year’s 49th anniversary of MMFF marks a remarkable season because the committee expanded the movie selection to ten entries, from the usual eight.
Included in the entries are the films Rewind, When I Met You in Tokyo, GOMBURZA, Mallari, Family of Two, Kampon, Penduko, Becky & Badette, Broken Hearts Trip, and Firefly.
