JUST A THOUGHT: “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings.”
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MMFF OFFERS DISCOUNT: A 30 per cent discount is being given students and senior citizens patronizing the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
The special privilege is expected to boost the box office take of eight films taking part in this year’s filmfest, which has taken a big shift from sheer commercial to quality productions.
The announcement was made by members of the MMFF executive committee headed by MMDA Chair Tim Orbos during a recent event at the Quezon City Circle.
It was the upside to a downside. The same committee also announced in another occasion that the 2016 festival shall run from Dec. 25 to January 3, 2017 only, instead of January 7 as had been common practice in the past.
The shortening of the festival period to only 10 days instead of 14 saddened producers and filmmakers who made it to the filmfest.
The move is seen as an expression of theatre owners’ apprehension that this year’s fest may not be as commercially successful as those in previous years. All this remains to be seen, however.
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PARADE OF STARS: Meanwhile, the Parade of Stars will be held on Dec. 23 with also a shortened route, from Manila City Hall to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo.
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JOHN LLOYD IS A JUDGE: Change in the MMFF has reached the awards night, to be held Dec. 29 at Kia Theater in Cubao.
The panel of judges includes prized actor John Lloyd Cruz and two experts from two distinguished international film festivals: Paolo Bertolin of Venice Film Fest and Philip Chea of Singapore Film Festival.
The other judges are director Antonette Jadaone, actor Johnny Revilla, Vince Reyes, and Fr. Tito Caluag.
(NESTOR CUARTERO)
