Kaabang-abang ang labanan sa kategoryang Best Actor sa 1st Summer MMFF (Abril 8-18, 2023).
Frontrunners sina Coco Martin (Apag) at Elijah Canlas (About Us But Not About Us).
May laban din siyempre sina Gerald Anderson (Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story), Carlo Aquino (Love You Long Time), Enchong Dee (Here Comes The Groom), at RK Bagatsing (Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera).
Dark horse sina Aljur Abrenica (Single Bells) at Yoo Min-gon (Yung Libro Sa Napanuod Ko).
Para sa Best Actress, madugo kung Padilla vs Padilla—Kylie Padilla (Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story) versus Bela Padilla (Yung Libro Sa Napanuod Ko).
Makasilat kaya ang sinuman sa dalawang marupok sa Single Bells na sina Alex Gonzaga at Angeline Quinto? What about Eisel Serrano (Love You Long Time) and Meg Imperial (Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera)?
Si Romnick Sarmenta (About Us But Not About Us), sa Best Actor ba o sa Best Supporting Actor ikukunsidera?
Si Jaclyn Jose (Apag), abangan din natin kung ilalagay sa Best Actress o Best Supporting Actress?
Si Gladys Reyes, dalawa ang panlaban — Apag at Here Comes The Groom. Ewan kung lead actress o support siya sa Apag.
Dalawa rin ang entry ni Aljur Abrenica. Maliban sa Single Bells, kasama si Aljur sa Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera.
Maaalalang si Aljur originally ang lead actor sana sa Apag. Nag-back out siya sa crime drama ni Direk Brillante Mendoza, at sinalo ni Coco ang kanyang role.
MORE ACTING FACEOFFS
Mabangis ang labanan sa supporting categories. Aba! Andaming magagaling na artista sa Apag, Here Comes The Groom, at Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera.
Maliban kina Coco, Jaclyn at Gladys, nasa Apag sina Lito Lapid, Julio Diaz, Ronwaldo Martin, Mercedes Cabral, Shaina Magdayao, Joseph Marco, Vince Rillon, Mark Lapid at Gina Pareño.
Co-stars ni Enchong at Gladys sa Here Comes The Groom sina Keempee de Leon, Maris Racal, Awra Briguela, Eugene Domingo, Miles Ocampo, Tony Labrusca, Nico Antonio, Iyah Mina, Fino Herrera, Kim Atienza, Xilhouette at Kalad Karen.
Aside from RK, Meg and Aljur, nasa Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko: The Music of Rey Valera sina Rico Barrera, Gelli de Belen, Josh de Guzman, Christopher de Leon, Lotlot de Leon, Jenine Desiderio, Ronnie Lazaro, Gian Magdangal, Carlo Mendoza, Ara Mina, Arlene Muhlach, Pekto Nacua, Eric Nicolas, Dennis Padilla, Epy Quizon, Biboy Ramirez, Arman Reyes, Ariel Rivera, Ricky Rivero, Rosanna Roces, Lloyd Samartino, Shira Tweg, Lou Veloso, at Gardo Versoza.
May Lorna Tolentino naman na gumanap bilang mother ni Bela sa Yung Libro Sa Napanuod Ko.
Aba! Kung present lahat ang mga bituing iyan, ang saya-saya ng Parade of Stars sa Abril 2, Palm Sunday, sa Commonwealth Avenue ng City of Stars. May programa sa Quezon Memorial Circle sa pagtatapos ng parada.
Ang awards night ng 1st Summer MMFF ay sa Abril 11, Martes, sa New Frontier Theater ng Cubao, Quezon City.
THE SUMMER MMFF SCREENING COMMITTEE
Kabahagi ang theater owners, represented by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), sa pagpili ng walong official entries ng 1st Summer MMFF.
“Alam ng CEAP ang pulso ng mga manonood at ilan po sa kanila ang members ng Selection Committee,” pahayag ni Boots Anson Roa-Rodrigo sa announcement ng walong official entries ng 1st Summer MMFF nitong Pebrero 24, Biyernes, sa Crowne Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Si Tita Boots ang Chairman ng Selection Committee ng nasabing filmfest.
Pagpapatuloy ni Tita Boots, “So in consultation with them and in consultation with others, even prior to deciding on the summer film festival, si Chairman [Don] Artes po at ang ExeComm ay nagkonsulta po about the timeliness of coming up with a summer film festival, and films of this nature.
“We’re focusing more on Easter Sunday [April 9] and the week after Easter Sunday rather than Holy Week.
“And so on a happier note, sana po yung feeling of Resurrection, the glorious feeling of happiness at winning over death of the Lord, will prevail sa puso po ng mga manonood.
“We’re also very fortunate that the producers have affirmed their full support in marketing and promoting their films — not only for their own particular film, but for the MMFF Summer festival as a whole.
“We’re very fortunate that we have a Marketing Committee that’s very active, that we have Noel [Ferrer] and we work very closely with you, members of the press who remain faithful conduits to our public in the past years.”
HOW THE 8 SUMMER MMFFF ENTRIES WERE CHOSEN
Tatlumpo’t tatlong (33) finished films ang nagsumite sa 1st Summer MMFF.
Napili ang walong official entries base sa criteria na artistic excellence (40%), commercial appeal (40%), Filipino cultural sensibility (10%), at global appeal (10%).
Pahayag ni MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes na siya ring MMFF Over-all Chairman, “We’re trying to balance po iyung ating line-up.
“Sa akin pong palagay, pinili po nina Tita Boots at ng Selection Committee natin yung talagang magagandang pelikula para i-offer sa ating mga kababayan.
“At nabanggit nga po ni Tita Boots, ang pinag-concentrate-an nila ay yung Gen-Z at millennial market kaya ganito po yung lumabas na line-up, na kakaiba po sa ating December Metro Manila Film Festival na more on pam-family at pambata.
“So kung makikita niyo po, maraming romance. Meron din naman pong comedy at meron pong drama, na mas pangkabataan kesa pambata.”
Susog ni Tita Boots, “Marami po talaga ang nag-submit na youth-oriented films. Pero sadly, yun pong iba sa kanila, hindi po na-meet iyung standards based on the criteria that we are following.
“So sayang nga, kung puwede nga lang sana, lahat ng youth-oriented films ay maipalabas natin, ano? But we have other criteria to abide by kaya ito po ang napagdesisyunan.
“For those of you who might be worried that yung in-announce po ni Chairman Artes nung Christmastime na ang misyon natin ay the youth, the Gen-Z, the millennials et cetera…
“Kahit po seryoso yung ibang pelikula na nabibilang sa walo, mapapansin ninyo na ang mga tema nila ay yung makaka-relate ang kabataan.
“Suicide, for example. The reports have said that, ‘How many students in the past year have committed suicide?’ Mental health, emotional health.
“Seryoso nga lang ang vehicle but the theme is something that young people can relate to, and parents as well.”
Sabi pa ni Tita Boots, sa tulong ng pelikulang Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story ay maaaring mas makapag-communicate ang mga magulang at mga anak kaugnay sa usapin ng pagsu-suicide.
Pagdidiin ni Tita Boots, “We’re very confident that our Marketing and Promotions people will be able to angle such that we’re not deviating from the truth about the film.
“Makapagbibigay sila ng ibang anggulo, ibang sides of the film that might be found more attractive, or just as attractive by the young people.
“And I’m sure the trailers will help. As always, an omnibus trailer is being developed and the trailers say a lot.
“At uulitin ko lang ang sinabi ko kanina, the theme can be serious but can be appealing as well to the young people.”
BOX-OFFICE TARGET
Target gross ng MMFF 2022 ang P500M, at na-achieve nila iyon. Meron bang target gross ang 1st Summer MMFF?
Tugon ni Chairman Don Artes, “Wala po kaming sinet na target dahil ito po ang kauna-unahang summer film festival.
“So wala po tayong basehan kung ano po yung magiging result. Ang masasabi ko lang po, sana po yung pagtanggap ng mga tao doon sa December 2022 MMFF natin ay maging ganun din po ang pagtanggap at pagtangkilik, pagsuporta ng mga manonood dito sa summer film festival.
“At hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo muli, yung mga kasama po natin sa press, na tulungan po kaming i-promote ito at para po tuluyan nang makabangon ang pelikulang Pilipino.”