Experience the best of Philippine cinema this holiday season at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival. Starting Christmas Day, the festival offers diverse cinematic offerings that will cater to every taste and sensibility. There's something for everyone, from drama to comedy, romance to action, and horror to fantasy. Make the most of this opportunity to experience the best of Philippine movies. Immerse yourselves in the magic of cinema.

This year's official entries: Family of Two (Cineko Productions and Myriad Entertainment), starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards; Kampon (Quantum Films, Brightlight Productions, and OctoArts Films), Derek Ramsay and Beauty Gonzalez; Penduko (Viva Films and Sari Sari Network Films), Matteo Guidicelli and Cristine Reyes; Rewind (ABS-CBN Film Productions), Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes; Becky & Badette (The IdeaFirst Company), Eugene Domingo and Pokwang; Broken Hearts Trip (BMC Films), Christian Bables; Firefly (GMA Public Affairs Program), Alessandra de Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell; GomBurZa (Jesuit Communications), Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero and Cedric Juan; Mallari (Mentorque Productions), Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador; and When I Met You In Tokyo (JG Productions), Vilma Santos-Recto and Christopher De Leon.

At the opening of the MMFF Auditorium at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) main office in Pasig City last Dec. 14, the stars requested the public to come together and make this year's film festival a success by showing our love for cinema and those who create it.

The success of a film festival is not just in the hands of the filmmakers but also in the hands of the audience. This year's festival is no exception. The stars, who have worked tirelessly to bring their stories to the big screen, count on your support.

Dingdong Dantes: "Nararamdaman ko na malakas ang taya ng bawat isang pelikula dito po sa Metro Manila Film Festival. Hindi lang po sa monetary kundi pati na rin sa talento kundi pati na rin sa commitment na mabigyan talaga ng sigla ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino. Kaya ako ay saludo sa mga producers at kapwa ko artista na talagang 100 percent ang commitment nila para sa ating mga manonood. 

(I feel that every single film here at the Metro Manila Film Festival has a strong bet. Not only in monetary terms, talent but also in the commitment to really give the Filipino film industry a boost. So I salute the producers and my fellow actors who are really 100 percent committed to our viewers.)

"Sana lumabas ang ating audience at ma-appreciate nila ang aming trabaho. Sana mapanood ninyo. Naniniwala naman ako sa MMDA na malaki ang tiwala nila sa MMFF. Kaya sana po ay suportahan natin ang ating mga pelikulang Pilipino sa Dec. 25," said Dingdong.

(I hope our audience will come out and appreciate our work. I hope you can watch it. I believe in the MMDA that they have a lot of confidence in the MMFF. So I hope we can support our Filipino films on Dec. 25.)

Derek Ramsay: "This year, we have 10 entries. Through the years, the MMFF has been good for all of us. There are a lot of competitions up there. There are the Koreans and the Indians. It's global. But this year, with 10 great films, sana mapakita talaga natin na we Filipinos are super talented and can compete with the best in the world. This year, we'll make a difference. So sana masuportahan natin ang lahat ng pelikula."

Enchong Dee: "This generation is a generation of collaborations and partnerships. I've always been so grateful to MMFF and the MMDA for supporting the entertainment industry since Day 1. I want to say thank you to the MMDA."

Eugene Domingo: "Ngayong Pasko, lalabas po ang lahat ng artista at magsasanib pwersa para buhayin ang pelikulang Pilipino. Ang kailangan mo namin ay tulong para palaganapin ang balita na maaari na pong pumasok ang buong bayan sa sinehan at hindi na mangangamba at manghihinayang sa ibinabayad nila at sa kanilang oras dahil magaganda po ang lahat ng piniling pelikula. Yun po ang inaasahan naming maitutulong ninyo sa amin. So sama-sama po nating buhayin ang halakhakan, iyakan at kung anu-ano pang nararamdaman sa loob ng sinehan."

(All the stars will join forces this Christmas to revive the local movie industry. We need your help to spread the news that the whole town can now go to the cinema and no longer fear and regret what they pay and their time because all the selected movies are good. We hope you can help us with that. So together, let's bring laughter, tears, and other feelings to the movies.)

Alessandra De Rossi: "Magtulungan na lang tayo na sana bumalik na ang mga tao sa sinehan." (Let's just work together so people can go back to the cinema.)

Piolo Pascual: "Yung MMFF na mangyayari ngayon is a blessing. We are all busy during the holidays pero sana we find the time to appreciate the Philippine cinema. Para sa ating lahat. Ma-push na natin sana ang mga boundaries and showcase what we can talent-wise. Sana suportahan natin ang pelikulang Pilipino."

(The MMFF is a blessing. We are all busy during the holidays, but I hope we find the time to appreciate the Philippine cinema. It's for all of us. Let's push the boundaries and showcase what we can talent-wise. I hope we support Filipino films.)

Veteran actress Boots Anson-Roa, who has been part of the MMFF executive committee for 20 years, said: "Lumabas pa rin ako sa pelikula pero yung entry po namin hindi napili. That's why I have to resign in the chairmanship of the selection committee kasi yung producer ng pelikula na nagawa ko is pinasok niya for application. So para wala pong conflict of interest. Sabi nga ng ating slogan, 'Tara na, magsaya, makiisa sa pelikulang Pilipino' at hatakin po nating lahat ng mga manonood pabalik po sa mga teatro."

(I still appear in the movies, but our entry was not selected. That's why I have to resign from the chairmanship of the selection committee: the film producer submitted my movie for application. So, there is no conflict of interest. Our slogan says, 'Let's go, have fun, join the Filipino film,' and let's invite the audience back to the theaters.)

Alden Richards: "Please support all the 10 films in the 2023 Metro Manila Filmfest and appreciate their contents because, at the end of the day, what we want for our Filipino audience is to be entertained and, at the same time, bring back the glory of Philippine cinema."

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, who graced the event, said he's hopeful for the revival of the movie industry.

"Alam naman natin na nahirapan ang movie industry nitong mga nakaraang taon pero sana magkaroon na tayo ng momentum," said Mayor Sotto said. (We know that the movie industry has struggled in recent years, but I hope we have some momentum.)

The 49th MMFF Gabi ng Parangal will be held at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City on Dec. 27.

MMFF auditorium

In its commitment to supporting and honoring the local film industry through the annual MMFF, the MMDA inaugurated the MMFF Auditorium, which serves as a venue for celebrating and promoting Filipino artistic talents and creativity.

MMDA Acting Chairman and concurrent MMFF overall chairman Atty. Don Artes said the MMDA is strongly committed to providing the utmost support to the plans and programs of the MMFF for the benefit of the movie and entertainment industry.

“This is a milestone for the MMFF, a fitting tribute to its almost five-decade success, which greatly contributes to Philippine cinema, producing films that have been recognized not just in our country but internationally,” said Atty. Artes.

The MMFF Auditorium on the 5th floor of the new MMDA Head Office in Pasig City is designed like a usual movie house with a big screen and 152 comfortable theater seats.

Artes added that this facility will be the venue for the various events of the film festival.

“Through the MMFF Auditorium, we aim to honor the invaluable contributions of Filipino filmmakers and recognize the significance of Philippine cinema in the overall cultural developmental effort for the country,” he added.

Other MMFF stars who graced the event were Christopher De Leon, Kylie Versoza, Christian Bibles, etc.

Mayor Vico congratulated the MMDA for establishing the MMDA Auditorium in recognition of the MMDA's contribution to the success of the Philippine cinema industry.

Meanwhile, Artes expressed confidence that the 49th edition of the MMFF would set new records with a wide range of genres, inviting the public to watch all 10 films and support the festival, which has been a big part of the Christmas tradition of many Filipino families.

No foreign films are shown in cinemas and theaters during the film festival to showcase locally produced films.

Organized by the MMDA, the MMFF aims primarily to promote and enhance the preservation of Philippine cinema.

This year's edition of the MMFF is presented in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Proceeds from the MMFF go to several beneficiaries in the film industry, such as the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.