Metro Manila Film Festival 2024-2025 in Philippines

Hosted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Metro Manila Film Festival is one of the most anticipated film events of the year. It's annually held in late December and early January and showcases eight or ten feature films, all made by Filipino filmmakers. This year marks the 50th-anniversary edition of the festival, making the event even more special. Starting with the iconic float parade and culminating in the dazzling awards ceremony, the Metro Manila Film Festival is a great introduction to the cinematography of the Philippines.

Film Selection

The film festival showcases the ten most interesting film picks out of dozens of applications, promising a fascinating screening program. All the films are Filipino-made, and there are no international or foreign films on the list. During the event, most cinemas in the Philippines exclusively screen selected movies and don't show international films at all, with the exception of IMAX and 3D theaters. This year, the first batch of films features such films as "And the Breadwinner Is...", "Green Bones," "Himala, Isang Musikal," "The Kingdom," and "Strange Frequencies." The rest of the selection was announced in September and includes "My Future You," "Hold Me Close," "Topakk," "Uninvited," and "Espantaho."

Parade of Stars (December 15, 2024)

The Parade of Stars is an annual event hosted prior to the main program of the festival and serves as an opening ceremony. Dozens of floats, each representing a film entry in the festival, travel along the streets of Manila, greeting spectators and boosting the anticipation of the upcoming festival. The actors are also present, promoting their work. Last year, the parade set off at 2 pm from Navotas Centennial Park, traveled along Samson Road and MacArthur Highway, and stopped at Valenzuela People's Park. The entire event usually lasts about three hours and passes through several Manila districts.

Festival Program

The main schedule is set to unfold from December 25th until January 7th. During the two-week run, the selected films are shown and judged by a board of jurors, who determine the best picture, global appeal of the movies, creativity, technical aspects, and value of the work. The competing categories include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and others. The Golden Gala, which gathers the cream of the crop from the Filipino film industry, takes place on November 11th. The awards ceremony, the Metro Manila Film Festival Gabi ng Parangal, will take place on December 27th.

Location

The Metro Manila Film Festival returns to the iconic location at the Manila Metropolitan Theater, which served as the venue for the first edition of the event in 1975. The theater is located near Arroceros Forest Park and near several transportation options, including tram and bus stops. Getting a taxi is another great way to commute to the festival.