Will 2011 MMFF hit P600M target?

The P540M gross of last year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) surpassed that of the previous year's.

In this year's (37th) MMFF, the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) under chairman Francis Tolentino aims at a P600M target and, knock on wood, it's easily attainable because of the very commercial eight entries which were announced at yesterday's presscon, chosen out of the list of 10 submitted scripts by the MMFF screening committee.

They are:

• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (drama), a joint venture between Regal Films and TV5, directed by Rodolfo "Jun" Lana Jr., and starring Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana and Ritz Azul;

• Segunda Mano (horror) by MJM Productions, starring Kris Aquino and Dingdong Dantes;

• Enteng Ng Ina Mo (comedy-fantasy) by ABS-CBN Film productions, Inc., M-Zet TV Productions, APT Productions and OctoArts Films, directed by Tony Y. Reyes, and starring Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas;

•Hototay (comedy) by Regal Entertainment, Inc. and SMDC, directed by Joel Lamangan, and starring John Lapus, Ruffa Gutierrez, Andi Eigenmann, Lovi Poe and Melai Cantiveros;

• Panday 2 (fantasy-action) by Imus Productions and GMA Films, directed by Mac Arthur Alejandre, and starring Bong Revilla, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado;

• Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (horror) by Regal Entertainment, Inc., directed by Chris Martinez (Lunod episode), Richard Somes (Tamawo) and Jerrold Tarog (Parola), starring Paolo Avelino, Albie Casiño, Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, Maricar Reyes and Lovi Poe, among others;

• Mr. Wong (action-adventure) by RP Studios, directed by Trina Dayrit and Richie del Carmen, and starring Robin Padilla with (probably) Angelica Panganiban; and

• My Househusband (romantic-comedy) by OctoArts Films, directed by Joey Javier Reyes, and starring Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos.

Among the jurors in last year's MMFF were a bus driver, a student and a teacher.

According to chairman Tolentino, this year, they are inviting an OFW to sit among the jurors.

The 2011 MMFF will be kicked off by the Parade of Star on Dec. 24 and will officially start on Dec. 25 and last until first week of January 2012.

SOURCE : http://www.philstar.com/funfare/Article.aspx?articleId=697355&publicationSubCategoryId=70