The 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is facing significant challenges, as reports suggest that the total box office revenue from its ten entries has only reached ₱500 million—a figure notably lower than in previous years.
At the forefront of the festival is ‘And The Breadwinner Is…’, which has reportedly earned over ₱200 million, far surpassing its closest competitor ‘The Kingdom’. Meanwhile, ‘Espantaho’ ranks third but is closely trailed by ‘Green Bones’, whose box office performance has surged following its Best Picture win.
Producers have expressed concerns over the financial strain caused by rising production and marketing costs. In her social media post, GMA Pictures Executive Vice President Nessa Valdellon highlighted the burden faced by filmmakers, particularly for big-budget projects.
“This MMFF could be a potential bloodbath for those who spent 60 or 70M on their movie (and that’s almost every film that looked big and glossy),” Valdellon stated. “Each production literally needs to earn three times its production cost only to break even!”
She also noted that while new labor laws have improved the welfare of industry workers, they have significantly increased production expenses.
Valdellon emphasized the importance of audience support, saying, “So if you love film, kindly watch as many MMFF films this year as you can afford to watch and are interested in.”
Valdellon’s remarks have sparked reactions from other industry figures, who echoed the call for reforms:
Director Avid Liongoren pointed out the impact of Value Added Tax (VAT) on producers, stating: “Tumbling talaga na ang VAT absorbed ng producers lang at walang share ang sinehan.”
Film archivist Leo P. Katigbak suggested tax exemptions for the festival, adding: “Politicians always praise cinema, but the support falls short.”
Director Joey Javier Reyes described this year’s MMFF as a “bloodbath” and emphasized the need for systemic changes: “There is a need to rethink the festival and the system of film productions if we are to survive.”
Despite the difficulties, Valdellon remains optimistic. She expressed hope for stronger box office returns during the New Year weekend, which she described as a crucial period for the festival.
“We’ll do what we can Sir and follow your lead. Am worried for most of the MMFF producers and expecting we’ll all end up making smaller films in the coming years given the results of the 50th. Pero, laban pa! There’s New Year and weekend still coming up,” Valdellon said.
The MMFF, which began on December 25, 2024, will run until January 7, 2025, showcasing a wide range of local films across theaters nationwide. However, the current situation underscores the pressing need for reforms to support filmmakers and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Philippine film industry.
