TAONG 1996 sa Metro Manila Film Festival, naging blockbuster at award-winning ang fantasy-adventure movie na Magic Temple nina Direk Peque Gallaga at Lore Reyes, with then kid actors Jason Salcedo, Junell Hernando, Marc Solis, at iba pa.

Ang lakas ng impact ng nasabing Gallaga-Reyes movie tandem at puwede na ngang maituring na “classic” ito, having been made 23 years ago. Mula noon, ilang taon nang hinihintay ng movie fans ang follow-up nila sa annual MMFF.

More than a year ago, join forces uli sina Direk Peque and Direk Lore for a new adventure-fantasy movie entitled Magikland -- pero this time ay hindi sila ang mga direktor, kung hindi co-executive producers, under their Gallaga-Reyes Films, along with Bright Light Productions.

Ang direktor this time ay si Christian Acuña na kung hindi kami nagkakamali ay galing sa advertising industry, at sa kanya ipinagkatiwala ng produksiyon ang paghawak ng palikula, na ang mga bidang kid actors naman ay sina Miggs Cuaderno, Elijah Alejo, Princess Rabara, and Josh Eugenio.

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‘Yun nga lang, sa aming panayam kay Direk Lore, inamin nitong hindi nila isinumite ang Magikland sa darating na MMFF ngayong December 2019, dahil hindi pa raw sila tapos sa “madugong” post-production.

“No, we’re not entering MMFF. We’re still in the middle of Post,” lahad ni Direk Lore.

“Gusto sana naming, kaso talagang hindi kaya. We have almost 2 thousand special effects scenes that needed CGI (computer graphics).

“Baka January pa kami matapos ng CGI, then by February, baka sakali, we’ll be able to finish sound design,” saad ng beteranong direktor.

Ganoon nga kabusisi at kahirap ang post-production (editing, sound, special effects, color grading) sa ganitong genre at ayaw daw nilang madaliin ang paggawa nito upang lalong mapaganda ang pelikula.

Who knows at baka by the time na tapos na ang movie ay puwede na nating itong abangan among the lineup of entries naman sa Summer MMFF 2020 – na ang MMDA pa rin ang organizers?

Samantala, ang alam naming mga “finished films” na isinumite sa MMFF 2019 (na apat na lang ang pagpipilian to complete the Magic 8) ay ang mga sumusunod:

1. Tripol Trobol (CCM Film Productions) -- Coco Martin, Ai-Ai Delas Alas, and Jennylyn Mercado, directed by Rodel Nacianceno (Coco). Mukhang action-comedy ito.
2. Culion (IOptions Productions) -- a historical drama with Iza Calzado, Jasmine Curtis Smith, and Meryll Soriano, written by Ricky Lee, directed by Alvin Yapan.
3. Tagpuan (Alternative Visions Cinema) -- a romance drama with Alfred Vargas and Shaina Magdayao, written by Ricky Lee, directed by Mac Alejandre, shot in Hong Kong and New York.
4. Isa Pang Bahaghari (Heaven’s Best Entertainment) -- a family drama with Nora Aunor with Phillip Salvador, Michael De Mesa, Zanjoe Marrudo, Joseph Marco, Sanya Lopez, etc., directed by Joel Lamangan.
5. Mindanao (Center Stage Productions, Solar Films) -- a drama starring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon, directed by Brillante Mendoza.
6. Damaso: The Musical (Regis Films) -- a musical-historical movie with Arnell Ignacio (as Padre Damaso), Jin Macapagal (as Crisostomo Ibarra), Vina Morales (as Sisa), Riva Quenery (as Maria Clara), Ariel Rivera, Aiko Melendez, Ian De Leon, Carmi Martin, libretto and direction by Joven Tan.
7. The Heiress (Regal Entertainment) – horror-drama starring Janella Salvador, Sunshine Cruz, McCoy De Leon, and Maricel Soriano, directed by Frasco Mortiz.
8. Love Is Love (RKB Productions) – a romantic comedy starring JC De Vera, Roxanne Barcelo, Raymond Bagatsing, Jay Manalo, Rufa Mae Quinto, Neil Coleta, Marco Alcaraz, Keanna Reeves, directed by GB Sampedro.
9. G! LU” (Go! La Union) (ALV Films, Rein Entertainment, and Benchingko Films), an adventure barkada movie starring Kiko Estrada, Derrick Monasterio, Ruru Madrid, David Licauco, Enzo Pineda, Teejay Marquez, directed by Philip King.

Ilan lamang ang mga titles na ito sa alam naming nag-submit ng kanilang entries (we heard na 15 entries ang total) sa inaabangang MMFF 2019.

Gaganapin ang announcement ng “last four” slots ngayong Oktubre.