After the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival, the MMFF Committee is beefing up its efforts for the maiden Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), which will screen the 10 2023 film festival entries in Los Angeles, California, USA, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2.

The MMDA is also preparing for the 50th MMFF which will be held in December.

"We expect to feature bigger and better films for our 50th edition as we celebrate the cinema-goer's return to theaters and patronize local movies,” said MMDA Acting Chairman and MMFF concurrent overall chairman Atty. Don Artes, during a press conference with MMFF Spokesperson Noel Ferrer on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Artes said the producers of 10 MMFF films have promised to participate in the inaugural MIFF. "They will send at least one artist from their official entry."

For the 50th year, the host city for the MMFF will be the City of Manila, according to Artes.

"We are already talking with Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and the awards night will be held at the Metropolitan Theater. It will be like a sentimental journey because the first MMFF was held in Manila," MMDA chief said.

Further, activities leading to the 50th MMFF are the student short film caravan, the short film festival, publishing a coffee-table book, and “Cine 50,” where the top 50 MMFF films for the last 49 years will be screened in selected theaters for only P50.

Artes announced that the summer festival will not take place this year so that the MMDA can focus on the 50th year of MIFF.

Also, the MMFF, which opened on Dec. 25, 2023, reported that combined gross receipts of its 10 film festival entries had reached a record-breaking P1.069 billion as of Jan. 7.

The figures have broken the P1.061 billion record set by the MMFF in 2018, even though there were only around 800 cinemas open as opposed to the 1,200 cinemas opened back in 2018, Artes said.

Atty. Artes said factors that contributed to the success of the 2023 MMFF are the quality of the films offered and the new audience, citing that during the previous MMFF, only the CDE markets of the moviegoers were targeted. Still, the ABC market was included.

“We received reports that moviegoers watched multiple films while others watched films repeatedly. Hopefully, we can sustain this beyond the festival so that our film producers can offer quality movies all year round. We also encourage filmmakers to create better films for the MMFF’s 50th edition,” said Atty. Artes.

Meanwhile, Winston Emano, MIFF Consultant, and Spokesperson, congratulated the successful and record-breaking MMFF 2023, setting the bar very high for the film industry.

“We at the MIFF intend to continue the wonderful momentum built up by MMFF, with the similar goal of uplifting and giving a bigger spotlight to Filipino cinema worldwide,” said Emano.

Under MIFF, there will be a series of gatherings and dialogues of Filipino celebrities, filmmakers, scriptwriters, and their American counterparts.

“There will be an exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing. We hope to bridge the gap and connect the Philippine entertainment industry with that of Hollywood and the international stage,” said Atty. Artes.

At the MIFF, a separate awards night with a different set of judges will also take place. Results may or may not be the same as the recent MMFF’s Gabi ng Parangal last December.

"This is not to challenge the results of the 2023 MIFF Gabi ng Parangal," said Ferrer. "We will have a different set of jurors in the US so we might have a different set of winners or the same awardees. It will all depend on the jurors."

On suggestions to hire Jo Koy as the host of the glittery event, Emano said: "So far we have not selected the host for the event. We can invite Jo Koy. We will see. We will make the official announcement soon."

Last Sunday Jo Koy made history as the first Filipino-American comedian to host the 81st Golden Globe Awards.

Artes said they are now coordinating with concerned agencies and film producers after receiving reports that MMFF's film entry “Rewind” has leaked, been illegally streamed, and been distributed online.

“We are coordinating with authorities so that the illegally streamed films will be taken down immediately,” said Artes.

He also urged the public not to engage in movie piracy, which is a crime, and discredit the Filipino filmmakers’ hard work, talent, and resources put into their projects.

Artes also said the MIFF will not release the official rankings of the 10 official entries for the 2023 MIFF. "We will only disclose the gross receipts but not the rankings."