In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), murals of iconic film posters will adorn the thoroughfare of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
On Thursday, August 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and learning institution iAcademy entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on creating murals celebrating iconic films of the MMFF.
Students of the iAcademy will paint murals showcasing MMFF film posters from the past 50 years, offering a vibrant and nostalgic art display along EDSA, the agency said.
The MMDA said that one of the proposed locations for the MMFF murals along EDSA spans from Buendia to Ayala, covering roughly 653 meters.
The students will start painting the murals next month, the agency said.
MMDA acting Chairperson Don Artes expressed gratitude to iAcademy for their support, noting that the students' artwork will not only enhance the walls along EDSA but also help promote the 50th edition of MMFF with the theme “Sine-Sigla sa Singkwenta.”
He added that the MMDA is also contacting hand-painted movie poster artists to collaborate with the iAcademy students.
“We will make EDSA nostalgic through murals of hand-painted movie posters to celebrate the rich history of MMFF,” he said in a statement.
For her part, iAcademy chief operating officer Raquel Wong said that the program “symbolizes our shared commitment and uses creativity to enhance our public spaces.”
“We are excited to show that these artworks will inspire and remind everyone of the power of creative collaboration in shaping our urban environment,” said Wong.
Previously, the MMDA worked with iAcademy, a specialized institution in Computing, Business, and Design, on a mural painting activity that highlighted road safety, in line with the MMDA's mandate and advocacy efforts.
According to the MMDA, the MMFF was organized by the former first lady Imelda Marcos in 1974.
It was originally named the "Manila Film Festival," which was initially a regional affair. But it was soon expanded to cover the entire Metro Manila.
Envisioned as a celebration of Filipino artistry, the MMFF provided a platform exclusively for local films by barring foreign films from being shown in theaters nationwide during its run.
Such action not only fortified the growth of the local film industry but also encouraged Filipino filmmakers to showcase their abilities and tell stories that resonate deeply with local audiences.