photo by Rodel Flordeliz (via Creative Commons)
The Philippines has a big movie industry and it is worth catching a Filipino movie during your tour of the country. Manila is home to one yearly festival that recognizes and awards the unique films created by Filipino Artists - the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Decades of Excellence
Beginning back in 1966, a precursor to the modern festival opened as the “Manila Film Festival” and ran for 12 days that June, but only allowed locally produced films from downtown Manila. The festival was not a breakout hit, and so it underwent several changes in the coming years. Eventually, it was rebranded as the “Metropolitan Film Festival” in 1975 and included other cities in towns in Metro Manila. This is considered the first real Metro Manila Film Festival, although it didn’t receive that name until 1977. The festival is now open to all Filipino films, not just those from Metro Manila, and the films are selected by a panel of jurors.
photo by (via Wikipedia Commons)
Season of Festivity
The Metro Manila Film Festival begins on Christmas Day and runs through the first weekend of January each year, making it one highlight of an already festive season in the Philippines. One of the centerpieces of the festival is the opening parade down Roxas Boulevard, which features floats and actors from the selected films. What makes this festival truly unique is that all the cinemas in Metro Manila are expected to play only these local films during the festival and to put foreign films on hold! It’s truly a time to celebrate and honor the creativity and efforts of Filipino filmmakers.
photo by Rodel Flordeliz (via Creative Commons)
Recognition and Awards
The Metro Manila Film Festival doesn’t just showcase Filipino films; it also awards them. Films can win awards in several categories, like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Musical Score. The awards for the actors are similar, with Best Actor, Best Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress, and even Best Child Performer. Like any gathering of celebrity, the festival award show has occasionally been filled with drama. Sometimes stars and directors who feel snubbed have walked out of the award show with a flourish of offended sensibilities. Somehow, the show continues to go on! Overall, the award show has been one of the highlights. 2016’s winner for Best Picture was “Sunday Beauty Queen,” directed by Baby Ruth Villarama. It was the first documentary to ever win Best Picture.
photo by (via Creative Commons)
Experience Movie Magic
The beauty of unique perspective of the films showcased in the Metro Manila Film Festival, along with the parade and award show, is an experience unlike any other. Many of Uncharted Philippines' adventure trips and trekking tours begin and end in Manila, and our experienced guides can help you make the most of your free time, perhaps by taking in an award-winning film. Discover the magic of the Philippines for yourself.