With quarantine restrictions preventing moviegoers from going to cinemas, the Metro Manila Film Festival will push through by going digital this year.
However, the lineup for the MMFF 2020 is different from the usual and netizens were disappointed with the list of movies included.
A netizen ranted about the entries using recycled plots and undesirable actors.
@yogon wrote, “A recycled story. A movie starring a plunderer. A film about a fake healer/swindler. Four comedy has-beens. Jusko, #MMFF2020.”
https://twitter.com/yogon/status/1331548841326174209
However, some were not as disappointed since there were some movies that were appealing to them.
@SUNOOSUPREMACY wrote, “Pangit ng lineup ng MMFF this year (is that a news char) except The Boy Foretold by the Stars because it’s gay + the poster is so cuuuuuute. [I] Haven’t watched the trailer though.”
pangit ng lineup ng mmff this year (is that a news char) except the boy foretold by the stars bec it's gay + the poster is so cuuuuuute. haven't watched the trailer though. pic.twitter.com/DkpYVWoStA
— ric is a sunoo misser (@SUNOOSUPREMACY) November 24, 2020
Many have been expecting that Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan would be an entry for MMFF. However, it did not make it.
https://twitter.com/baby0811/status/1331177095062425602
“Luhhhhh wala yung ‘Ang mga kaibigan ni mama susan’ sa mmff entry,” @criteeeeh wrote.
Luhhhhh wala yung 'Ang mga kaibigan ni mama susan' sa mmff entry pic.twitter.com/eM6mhKfD2s
— ❣ Cristy ⟭⟬ ❣ (@cristeeeeh) November 25, 2020
With the BL genre becoming popular lately, it is no surprise that a BL movie was included in the list. However, a netizen was disappointed that just because it’s popular doesn’t mean that it should be included in MMFF.
@XOldierJasss tweeted, “First time magkakaroon ng ‘Nauusong’ genre na BL sa MMFF. Huwawww so for trend lang pala ang ganitong genre? Kung di siya nag trend hindi siya makakasali sa MMFF at hindi rin dadami ang ganitong series/film? Ahhhh Okay. Okay…”
https://twitter.com/XOldierJasss/status/1331567858929733633
@arcledjz narrated that her mother was irked by the fact that gay and BL films were included in the MMFF.
“My mom remarked in disgust when she saw the announcement of a Gay Film and a BL Film in the MMFF,” he wrote.
But two entries seemed to have made fans happy, namely Fan Girl and The Boy Foretold by the Stars.
“Fan Girl at The Boy Foretold By The Stars! Dalawa nanaman ang papanoorin ko sa MMFF! Sayang di kasali yung Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan,” @SonnnyBoii wrote.
https://twitter.com/SonnnyBoii/status/1331262414466138113
@marckryancidro wrote, “IDK ’bout you but probably, ‘The Boy Foretold by the Stars’ and ‘Fan Girl’ are the only MMFF entries that matter for me.”
idk bout you but probably, 'The Boy Foretold By The Stars' and 'Fan Girl' are the only MMFF entries that matter for me
— Marck Ryan (@marckryancidro) November 24, 2020
It seems Fan Girl is an obvious choice for most netizens to win this year’s MMFF as many netizens were rooting for the movie.
@dyeraldsayat wrote, “Not a fan of MMFF kasi sa palagay ko gumagawa lang sila ng pelikula para sa sales (Alam ko na it’s still a business ). However, this year I can say na busog na busog tayo sa artistic value. Rooting for Fan Girl by Direk Tonette.”
https://twitter.com/dyeraldsayat/status/1331217822463082496
No entries for Box-office hitmakers
This year, Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto, and Coco Martin will not have their own entries. Some netizens have concluded that it is because they will not earn as much as before since the entries will be streamed online.
@ace_antipolo wrote, “Ang weird na walang Vice Ganda or Box Sotto cash grab comedies sa #MMFF2020. Mostly likely kasi they know they will not earn the same as before since it’s for streaming. But at least, we have more spots for other stories. Go ako sa #MMFFonUPSTREAM.”
Ang weird na walang Vice Ganda or Box Sotto cash grab comedies sa #MMFF2020. Mostly likely kasi they know they will not earn the same as before since it's for streaming.
But at least, we have more spots for other stories. Go ako sa #MMFFonUPSTREAM— film circle reject (@ace_antipolo) November 24, 2020
Vhong Navarro’s ‘Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandang Itim‘ made it to the list of 10 entries.
CONGRATS Team #MangKepweng ! #MMFF2020 @barbieeimperial @VhongX44 pic.twitter.com/yHwIA63OIn
— tropang _JuanBie_Official (@TropangwantedJB) November 24, 2020
MMFF problem: from an exhibition of Filipino history and culture to a commercial sweepstake
Before, the Metro Manila Festival aimed to bring to create a way for local films to be shown all over the country with no direct competition from foreign box-office draw. However, as time went by, the MMFF showcased only those big-budgeted movies and only include in the entry those who could attract the biggest box-office draw possible.
The Film Festival became a variety of subjects and not genres. Mostly, during the previous years except 2016, the MMFF has been filled with the same genre again and again. The MMFF has strayed from its goal: as a means to encourage the creation of excellent Filipino films.
This year’s MMFF list:
- Magikland
- Coming Home
- The Missing
- Tagpuan
- Isa Pang Bahaghari
- Suarez the Healing Priest
- Mang Kepweng
- Pakboys Takusa
- The Boy Foretold by the Stars
- Fan Girl
