MIFF opens in Hollywood; jury members revealed
TEN official entries of the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) can now be enjoyed by the global audience as its overseas edition, the Manila International Film Festival, opens at the TCL Chinese Theaters on Hollywood Boulevard.
These films will likewise be given awards that are separate and independent from the MMFF awards given last December 2023. Filipino Americans who are accomplished in the film industry will serve as jury members and will decide the winners in nine categories.
The awards, which will be given in a star-studded closing night awards gala at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard include best picture, best director, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best screenplay, and best cinematography.
The winner for best picture will be allowed to make a US-based feature film co-produced by Birns & Sawyer. It will award up to $100,000 worth of camera rental equipment with the support of other industry vendors. The package is valued overall at $200,000 with the support of industry partners, Atlas Lens Co., BlackOps Studios Asia, CMB Film Services, Inc., and Myriad Entertainment USA.
The Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay winners will each receive the latest version of Final Draft Software valued at $250 through a partnership with Birns & Sawyer.
The two other MIFF recognitions are the Audience Award to be voted on by the MIFF moviegoers at the screenings which will run through February 1, and the Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement Award which is set to be given to actress Hilda Koronel.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman and concurrent MMFF Overall Chairman Atty. Don Artes said that the MIFF will be very vital in further uplifting the quality of Filipino films as it reaches foreign moviegoers.
The 10 films to be screened in America at MIFF are: Becky and Badette, Broken Heart’s Trip, Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story), Firefly, GomBurZa, (K)Ampon, Mallari, Penduko, Rewind, and When I Met You in Tokyo.
