WISE MOVE? – Yes, the December Metro Manila Film Festival is an all-indie festival. The screening committee and jurors of the annual cinema event chose eight independently produced films as official entries, showing from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.
Is it a wise move?
Well, it remains to be seen. After all, the proof of the pudding is… in the box-office result. Will the holiday audience, mostly children, patronize out-of-the-box movies as most, if not all, indies are.
Will the MMFF of 2016 duplicate, or even top, the more than R1-billion gross of last year’s filmfest?
As Highspeed earlier said: It remains to be seen.
•
TWO EXCELLENT ENTRIES – Not having seen any of the eight indies, can’t pass judgment on their merits… or demerits.
But having watched two which failed to make it to MMFF, can say that they are excellent films, referring to Baby Nebrida’s “Across the Crescent Moon” and Gil Portes’ “Moonlight over Baler.”
“Across the Crescent Moon” is action-drama with a timely and relevant message, unity in diversity. Matteo Guidicelli is the Muslim soldier married to a Christian girl, played by Alex Godinez. They fight for their love and marriage amid turmoils in the south, human trafficking, and drug smuggling.
“Moonlight over Baler” is a timeless love story encompassing World War II and the EDSA Revolution. It stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Vin Abrenica, Sophie Albert, and Ellen Adarna.
•
TWO MISTERS – Now on with the two Misters of Filipinas vying for international titles abroad, as reported by Mel Caparas.
Ar de la Serna competes on Dec. 3 for Mister Supranational in Krynica-Zdron, Poland.
Vincent Jarina flies to Bali, Indonesia to join the first edition of Mister Asian on Dec. 18.
Good luck to Ar and Vincent!