MAHIGIT limampung pelikula ang nilalaman ng mga letter of intent mula sa producers na nais lumahok sar Metro Manila Film Festival 2016 ngayong Disyembre, ayon sa aming source.

Umabot sa 52 film titles ang isinumite sa MMDA office bago pa man sumapit ang July 8 deadline of submission.

Ito na ang taong may pinakamaraming nais sumali sa MMFF, dahil marahil nakitaan nila ng chance ng pagbabago, matapos ang maiskandalong MMFF last year (2015), with a new set of executive committee, selection committee, at criteria for judging.

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Sa katunayan, sa bonggang launching ng MMFF 2016 a few months ago sa sosyal na SMX Convention Center ay may theme ang December film festival na “Reelvolution”.

Dati-rati ay hindi lalagpas ng 20 films ang pinagpipiliang entries sa taunang pista ng pelikulang Pilipino.

Mukhang welcome sa film producers – mainstream man or independent (indie) -- ang bagong patakaran na “finished film” na ang basehan at hindi ang nakasanayang screenplays lang. Aba, eh, ang daming nagsu-shooting, ha, makapasok lang sa deadline of submission sa October 31.

Kasi nga ay “open for all” or it’s everybody’s ball game kung sino ang masuwerteng mapipili among the Magic 8 official entries sa taong ito, na very exciting ang laban dahil it’s now mainstream versus indie films.

Ang 24 na pelikulang nasa listahang ito ay mga “hula” lamang ng inyong lingkod sa film titles na nag-submit ng kanilang LOI. Hindi namin ito kinukumpirma, dahil wala namang kumpirmasyon mula sa ilang film outfits, maliban sa Regal Entertainment ni Mother Lily Monteverde na aminadong tatlo ang titles na isinumite:

1. Mano Po 7: Chinoy (Regal) -- Richard Yap, Jean Garcia, Jessy Mendiola, Jake Cuenca, Enchong Dee, Jana Agoncillo, and Janella Salvador; written by Senedy Que, directed by Ian Loreños

2. Our Mighty Yaya (Regal) -- Ai-Ai delas Alas, Zoren Legaspi, Megan Young, Sofia Andres, Betong Sumaya, and Lucas Enrique; written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes

3. Pwera Usog (Regal) -- Eula Valdes, Joseph Marco, Kiko Estrada, Sofia Andres, Devon Seron, Cherise Deslippe, and Albie Casino; written and directed by Jason Paul Laxamana

4. The Unmarried Wife (Star Cinema) – Dingdong Dantes, Paolo Avelino, and Angelica Panganiban, directed by Maryo J. Delos Reyes

5. Pak Ganern (working title, from Star Cinema) – Vice Ganda and Coco Martin, with Simon Pineda (Onyok) and Mcneal Briguela (Aura); directed by Joyce Bernal

6. Extra Service (Star Cinema) -- Coleen Garcia, Arci Muñoz, and Jessy Mendiola, with Ejay Falcon, Vin Abrenica, Enzo Pineda, written and directed by Chris Martinez

7. Kabisera -- Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, Luis Alandy, JC de Vera, Jason Abalos, Ces Quesada, RJ Agustin, Kiko Matos, Ronwaldo Martin, and Ms Perla Bautista; written by Real Florido; directed by Real Florido and Arturo “Boy” San Agustin

8. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank Part 2: Forever is Not Enough (Quantum Films) -- Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Joel Torre, Agot Isidro, Cai Cortez, Kean Cipriano, Khalil Ramos; written by Chris Martinez, directed by Marlon Rivera

9. Seklusyon (Reality Entertainment) -- Dominic Roque, Ronnie Alonte (of Hashtag), John Vic De Guzman (volleyball player), JR Versales (ramp and commercial model), with Neil Ryan Sese, Lou Veloso, and Rhed Bustamante; written by Anton Santamaria, directed by Erik Matti

10. Buy Bust (Reality Entertainment) -- Anne Curtis and Brandon Vera (Filipino American mixed martial arts); written by Ays De Guzman, directed by Erik Matti 

11. Moonlight Over Baler (T-Rex Productions) -- Elizabeth Oropesa, Vin Abrenica, Sofie Albert, and Ellen Adarna, written by Eric Ramos, directed by Gil Portes

12. Die Beautiful (The IdeaFirst Company) -- Paolo Ballesteros, Luis Alandy, Gladys Reyes, Albie Casiño, Soxie Topacio, Inah De Belen, IC Mendoza, Cedrick Juan, etc., written and directed by Jun Robles Lana

13. Juan Balucas at Ang Bayabas (Squid Ball Brothers) -- Nourish Icon Lapuz (child actor of TV5’s Baker King), Archie Alemania, Gabby Padilla, Brooke Chantelle, etc., written and directed by Franco Arce

14. Higanti (Gitana Film Production) -- Assunta de Rossi, Jay Manalo, Meg Imperial, Katrina Halili, Alwyn Uytingco, Jon Lucas, Daniel Pasia, DJ Durano, and Kiko Matos; written by Susan Lara, Mario Mendez, Jr., Bimbo Papasin, Esmeralda Cortez, and Rommel Ricafort; directed by Rommel Ricafort

15. Enteng Kabisote 10 and The Abangers (Octo Arts Films, MZet Films, APT Entertainment) – Vic Sotto, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Oyo Sotto, Ryza Cenon, Bea Binene, Jeffrey Quizon, Atak, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Ken Chan, Kakai Bautista, Jerald Napoles, and Alonzo Muhlach; directed by Marlon Rivera and Tony Y. Reyes 

16. Mang Kepweng Returns (Cineko Productions) – Vhong Navarro, Jaclyn Jose, Kim Domingo, James Blanco, Sunshine Cruz, Valeen Montenegro, Ahron Villena, Juancho Triviño, and Louise delos Reyes. Special Guests – Lotlot De Leon, Jackie Rice, Pen Medina, Matet, and Jhong Hilario; written by Volta delos Santos, directed by GB Sampedro

17. Swipe (Ailud Entertainment) -- Mercedes Cabral, Luis Alandy, Gabby Eigenmann, Alex Medina, Alvin Anson, Maria Isabel Lopez, and Meg Imperial, written and directed by Ed Lejano

18. Riding in Tandem -- Jason Abalos, Joem Bascon, Victor Neri, Khalil Ramos, Mara Lopez, Ronnie Quizon, Sue Prado, Alvin Anson, and Kiko Matos, directed by Toto Natividad

19. Across The Crescent Moon -- Matteo Guidicelli, Christopher de Leon, Dina Bonnevie, Gabby Concepcion, Sandy Andolong, and introducing Alex Godinez. Also starring Joem Bascon, Jason Abalos, Dianne Medina, and Jerico Ejercito; written, produced and directed by Baby Nebrida

20. Kita Kita (Spring Films) -- Alessandra de Rossi and Empoy, written and directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

21. Pusit (Blank Pages Productions for Pantomina Film Production) -- Jay Manalo, Elizabeth Oropesa, Kristofer King, Ronnie Quizon, Rolando Inocencio, Lehner Mendoza, Mike Liwag, and Joel Saracho; written and directed by Arlyn dela Cruz  

22. Laro (Role Play) -- Nora Aunor, Rosanna Roces, Angeli Bayani, Martin del Rosario, Sebastian Castro; directed by Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr.

23. Lady Fish -- Martin Escudero, Brenda Mage, JC Santos, Ruby Ruiz; producer is Angela Cortez; screenwriter, executive producer, and director is Jason Orfalas 

24. JaDine Movie (Viva Films) – Nadine Lustre, James Reid, director to be announced Criteria for Judging: Story, audience appeal, overall impact – 40 % / Cinematic attributes or technical excellence – 40 % / Global appeal --10 % / Filipino sensibility – 10 % 

Ang MMFF 2016 selection committee ay binubuo nina Sid Lucero (award-winning actor), Lawrence Fajardo (writer/ director/ film editor), Mae Paner (actor/director/political activist), Atty. Trixie Angeles (conservationist/legal counsel for the NCAA), Alan Allanigue (station manager of DZRB Radyo ng Bayan), Crispina Belen (veteran journalist), at Krip Yuson (writer/poet, inducted to the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature). 

Can you imagine na 24 lang ang nailista namin dito, eh, 52 ang nag-submit ng letter of intent? Kalurks!