Ni NOEL D. FERRER

NAGSARA ang mga opisina ng Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Secretariat noong Lunes, October 30 na may labing-isang finished film submission na pagpipilian ng apat pang pelikulang ipapalabas sa darating ng MMFF sa Pasko. 

Iba’t ibang film genre ang naisubmit: pitong drama (with all its permutations and variations), dalawang musical dramedy at dalawang horror films ang pagpipilian para sa apat na pelikulang kukumpleto sa walong official entries na makakasama ng nauna nang apat na pelikulang Ang Panday starring and directed by Coco Martin; Ganda Rapido: The Revenger Squad starring Vice Ganda, Pia Wurtzbach at Daniel Padilla directed by Joyce Bernal; Meant To Beh nina Vic Sotto at Dawn Zulueta directed by Chris Martinez at All Of You nina Jennylyn Mercado at Derek Ramsay directed by Dan Villegas. 

Nagsimula nang panoorin ng mga miyembro ng Selection Committee ang early bird submissions at tuluy-tuloy ang panonood nila ng mga pelikula this weekend. 

Nakatakda na ang announcement ng complete 8 official entries sa MMFF 2017 sa November 17 sa Club Filipino. 

Kapit bisig ang Solar at Viva sa marketing at mounting ng parada at awards night ng MMFF ngayong taon. 

Isa pang malaking factor ay ang sponsorship ng Muntinlupa sa MMFF ngayong taon. Kung noong 2016 ay si Mayor Erap Estrada ang kumupkop sa MMFF at ibinalik sa Maynila ang parada, ngayong taon, pangungunahan ng team ni Mayor Jaime Fresnedi ang selebrasyon bilang pagdiriwang na rin ng Centennial ng Cityhood ng Muntinlupa. 

For the first time in the history of the MMFF, ang MMFF Parade of Stars will be hosted by Muntinlupa sa December 23.  

“We are honored and excited to host the MMFF Parade of Stars”, sabi ni Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa. “The parade is a welcome addition to our commemoration of our City’s Centennial Celebration. Our residents in Muntinlupa as well as those from our neighboring cities in the southern part of Metro Manila would be very happy to see their favorite stars up close and personal.”

Ang parada ay magsisimula sa Muntinlupa Sports Complex, at tutuloy Centennial Avenue, turn at the National Road at magtatapos sa Filinvest City Event Grounds.

 Another first this year ay ang concert that will conclude the MMFF Parade of Stars. The concert will feature celebrities participating in the parade as well as local bands and performing artists from Muntinlupa. 

There will be two venues to simultaneously hold a program; the kick- off of the Parade will be at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex and the main concert will be held at the Filinvest City Event Grounds. 

Sa pangunguna ng MMDA at Muntinlupa, lahat ng affected roads will be closed to traffic on the parade day.  

Bukod dito, committed ang lahat ng mga official entries na magkaroon ng synergized activity para sa MMFF sa Visayas (Cebu) at Mindanao (Davao). 

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