For the first time in two or three years, we’re finally back to watching the Metro Manila Film Festival the way we used to.

No shortcuts, no half-attending, no “maybe next year.”

Just the familiar excitement of stepping into a cinema on a December night, lining up with families and barkadas, and immersing ourselves in Filipino stories during the holidays.

And honestly—wala, ang sarap lang sa feeling.

We missed this festival more than we realized.

This year, MMFF welcomes us back with a lineup that feels different—not just bigger, but braver and more varied.

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WHY THIS YEAR’S MMFF FEELS DIFFERENT

If you’ve followed the festival over the years, you’ll notice right away: MMFF 2025 doesn’t look like the typical holiday lineup.

This year feels like a reset. A recalibration. Maybe even a quiet revolution.

Here’s why:

1. The Variety is Surprisingly Strong

A queer parenthood comedy-drama, a representation-led film starring actors with Down syndrome, a 1969 period thriller, a future-set horror anthology, a legal drama about annulment, a Gen Z romance, and a decade-later sequel?

We’ve rarely seen this much range in one MMFF slate.

2. The Themes Are Culturally Timely

Every film seems to touch on something relevant today:

– queer families

– disability representation

– historical reflection

– the future of the Philippines

– heartbreak and legal realities

– Gen Z identity

It’s not just entertainment — these are conversations Filipinos are actually having.

3. A Blend of Commercial and Artistic Voices

The festival has been criticized before for leaning too commercial or too heavy-handed.

But this year?

It feels balanced.

There are stars, yes — but the stories feel more intentional, more socially aware, more open to risk.

4. A Sense of “New Era” Energy

The MMFF selection committee mentioned “A New Era of Philippine Cinema,” and you can see it in the lineup.

There’s ambition.

There’s heart.

There’s experimentation.

And there’s a sense that filmmakers are being trusted again to tell bolder stories.

This is why this year’s return to the festival feels special.

Not just because we’re back—but because MMFF itself seems to be evolving too.

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🎬 THE 8 OFFICIAL ENTRIES — MMFF 2025

Below are the eight films shaping the festival this year — each with its own world, message, and emotional pull.

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1. CALL ME MOTHER

Cast: Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre

Director: Jun Robles Lana

Genre: Comedy-Drama

A vibrant, emotional story about queer parenthood and the complexities of becoming a family.

Vice Ganda plays Twinkle, a queer mother figure fighting for the chance to adopt, while Nadine Lustre’s Mara returns as the biological mother who upends her world.

Tender, funny, and socially resonant.

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2. REKONEK

Cast: Gerald Anderson, Gloria Diaz, Carmina Villaruel, Zoren Legaspi, Alexa Miro

Director: Jade Castro

Genre: Family Drama

A quiet exploration of forgiveness, Rekonek mirrors many Filipino families: imperfect, hopeful, and bound by love despite the wounds.

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3. MANILA’S FINEST

Cast: Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, Rica Peralejo

Director: Raymond Red

Genre: Crime Thriller

Set in 1969 Manila, the film follows police officers navigating moral ambiguity during political turmoil.

Stylish, gritty, and visually driven — this could be the festival’s dark horse.

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4. SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL: EVIL ORIGIGINS

Cast: Richard Gutierrez, Ivana Alawi, Loisa Andalio, Carla Abellana, and more

Directors: Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman, Ian Loreños

Genre: Horror / Anthology

A reinvention of the iconic horror franchise — now spanning three timelines: 1775, 2025, and 2050.

Big cast, big scale, big nostalgia.

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5. I’MPERFECT

Cast: Krystel Go, Earl Amaba

Director: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

Genre: Social Drama

A rare act of representation — a mainstream film led by two actors with Down syndrome.

Warm, sincere, and deeply human.

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6. LOVE YOU SO BAD

Cast: Will Ashley, Bianca de Vera, Dustin Yu

Director: Mae Cruz-Alviar

Genre: Romance / Young Adult

A modern Gen Z romance powered by rising stars with strong online followings.

Contemporary, youthful, and emotionally tender.

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7. UNMARRY

Cast: Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo

Director: Jeffrey Jeturian

Genre: Drama / Legal

A painful but honest depiction of a couple navigating annulment — a uniquely Filipino reality rarely explored in mainstream cinema.

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8. BAR BOYS: AFTER SCHOOL

Cast: Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano

Director: Kip Oebanda

Genre: Comedy-Drama / Sequel

Ten years after the beloved original, the characters return as adults confronting careers, friendships, and the unpredictable road of adulthood.

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WHAT THIS EPISODE MEANS FOR THE SERIES

This feature marks Episode 1 of our MMFF 2025 mini-series:

1. Episode 1 — The Eight Films You Should Know (this one)

2. Episode 2 — The MMFF Experience

3. Episode 3 — What These Films Say About Us

4. Episode 4 — A New Era? And the Winners

After missing the festival these past few years, being back inside the cinema feels grounding — almost like returning to a tradition we didn’t realize we needed.

And with a lineup this strong, this year’s MMFF might just remind us why Filipino cinema is worth celebrating.