The 2015 year’s Metro Manila Film Festival surpassed its first six-day earnings by P24 million, the Metro Manila Development Authority said on Thursday.
According to MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos, as of Dec. 30, the eight entries in the 2015 MMFF earned at the box office P622 million as against the P598 million it earned for the first six days in 2014.
The movies included in the list of top earners are My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore starring Vic Sotto and the phenomenal Aldub love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, Beauty and the Bestie which featured Vice Ganda and Coco Martin, Haunted Mansion starring Joem Basco, Alan Paule and Janelle Salvador, and Walang Forever starring Jennilyn Mercado.
The MMDA said earlier it was expecting that the 2015 MMFF would surpass the 2014 earnings, citing the film entries of big stars like the Aldub Love Team, which became popular because of its “Kalyeserye” on noontime show Eat Bulaga.
The other entries are Buy Now, Die Later starring Jayson Gainza, John Lapus and Ian Veneracion; All You Need Is Pag-ibig starring Kris Aquino and Derek Ramsay; Nilalang starring Cesar Montano and Maria Ozawa, and Honor Thy Father Starring John Lloyd Cruz.
All entries at the MMFF are being shown during the entire festival period until Jan. 7.
The MMFF executive committee brushed aside allegations of irregularity raised by the producers of Honor Thy Father which was disqualified from the Best Picture category.
Carlos, concurrent head of the MMFF Execom, maintained that all the awardees were deserving and that the decisions made by the jury is proof of Filipino ingenuity, creativity, and passion for the art of filmmaking.
“We stand firm on the decisions made for the MMFF in the awards night. Honor Thy Father was disqualified for the reason that it was already shown in other film festivals, which is in violation of MMFF rules. This is not a decision of one single person alone, but of a collegial body, the MMFF Execom,“ he said in a statement.
Carlos said the decision is aimed to protect the integrity of the annual film festival and to avoid showing ‘reissued’ films.
“We are not afraid of any investigation to be conducted by anybody or any institution.”
