The Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee (MMFF Execom) , upon the recommendation of its Selection Committee, has announced the first 4 official entries to the MMFF 2017 based on the script submission.

The MMFF Execom said the following entries have been thoroughly evaluated by the body’s selection panel.

“ANG PANDAY”

Director: Rodel Nacianceno

Producer: CCM Creative Productions, Inc.

Lead Actor: Coco Martin

“ALMOST IS NOT ENOUGH”

Director: Dan Villegas

Producers: Quantum & Mjm Productions

Lead Actors: Jennylyn Mercado & Jericho Rosales

“THE REVENGERS”

Director: Joyce A. Bernal

Producers: Star Cinema & Viva Films

Lead Actors: Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla & Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach

“LOVE TRAPS #Family Goals”

Director: Antonio Y. Reyes

Producer: Octo Arts Films

Lead Actors: Vic Sotto & Dawn Zulueta

With the push for artistic excellence that began in 2016, the MMFF this year under the helm of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim received a very encouraging and diverse roster of 26 film-entries that already crossed the so-called commercial-indie divide.

“Our selection committee had a difficult time choosing given the quality of films. We have to thank them for their exhaustive and thorough deliberations,” MMFF Executive Committee Chairman Tim Orbos said.

“We also have to give credit to this year’s Rules Committee which devised the two-part selection process that gave a greater latitude to interested participants for this year,” Orbos said, referring to the new vetting scheme that was initially applied this year to assure that no discrimination will arise amongst commercial and the so-called “indie” films.

The film entries this year were evaluated based on the following criteria: 40% artistic excellence; 40% commercial appeal; 10% promotion of Filipino cultural and historical values & 10% global appeal.

The next phase for the Full Length Feature category will be the finished film submission. The films with the duly accomplished application forms and complete requirements can be submitted to the MMFF Secretariat until October 2 for early birds, and until October 30 for the regular submission.

The remaining 4 slots as official entries shall be selected from all the submitted finished films to complete the eight (8) official entries to the 2017 MMFF which will be announced on November 17.

The deadline for the Short Film category, on the other hand, will be on September 1, while the announcement for the eight official Short Film entries is on Sept. 29.