The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is just around the corner, set to light up cinemas nationwide with eight Filipino films all vying for box-office glory and festival accolades.
In line with this year’s theme, “A New Era for Philippine Cinema,” the MMFF’s 51st edition will kick off with its first-ever Parade of Stars, to be held in Makati on December 19. Its award ceremony, Gabi ng Parangal, will take place on December 27.
The festival’s screenings will officially run from December 25 to early January 2026, giving audiences across the country plenty of time to see at least some of its cinematic offerings in theaters.
But which of the eight to prioritize? Should your ticket go to Bar Boys: After School, Kip Oebanda’s long-awaited sequel to his 2017 law school barkada drama? Or should you check out one of the rom-coms, Unmarry or Love You So Bad?
While this year’s lineup makes it tough to choose just one film to see (or better yet, why not watch all of them and support local?), we’ve narrowed down some of the movies we’re most excited to see at the festival.
‘Manila’s Finest’
Cannes winner Raymond Red is back in the director’s seat with Manila’s Finest, a film about a serial killer roaming the slums of Manila, the angered throngs of the First Quarter Storm, and Piolo Pascual as the steadfast Lt. Homer Magtibay, tasked with picking up after the country’s mess. Joining Pascual in this cop thriller are Enrique Gil, Cedrick Juan, Joey Marquez, Dylan Menor, Romnick Sarmenta, and Ashtine Olviga.
‘Call Me Mother’
In Jun Robles Lana’s Call Me Mother, Vice Ganda is busy mothering — that is, until Nadine Lustre throws a wrench in her plans. Vice Ganda plays Twinkle, a “fabulous, single queer mother” who hopes to surprise her adoptive son Angel (Lucas Andalio), with a trip to Disneyland. The only problem is that his adoption papers aren’t quite finalized, and when Angel’s biological mother, Mara (played by Lustre), appears out of the blue, the two mothers clash in a campy, over-the-top battle for the child’s future.
‘Rekonek’
A world without wi-fi sounds like a nightmare, and director Jade Castro brings that to life in his Christmas comedy drama, Rekonek. The lone holiday-themed entry at this year’s MMFF follows multiple families as they navigate the Christmas season completely offline. Rekonek features a stacked cast, including Gerald Anderson, Andrea Brillantes, Gloria Diaz, and Charlie Dizon.
‘I’mPerfect’
Directed and written by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, I’mPerfect presents audiences with a tender love story between Jiro (Earl Amaba) and Jessica (Krystel Go), two adults with Down Syndrome. While life may seem to be stacked against their budding romance, the two are determined to prove that they are capable of both loving each other and building a life together.
‘Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins’
The Shake, Rattle & Roll franchise returns with its latest reincarnation, Evil Origins. Just like the 16 installments that came before it, Evil Origins will jump across three different storylines. We’ll start in 1775, where a mysterious chest taken from the hull of a Spanish ship harkens the deaths of four women. Then we’ll return to 2025, where a serial killer lurks at a Halloween party. Finally, we’ll step into 2050, where a gang of aswangs rule a post-apocalyptic Philippines. The anthology film stars returning cast members such as Janice de Belen, Manilyn Reynes, Carla Abellana, and Arlene Muhlach, who are joined by Richard Gutierrez, Ivana Alawi, Ashley Ortega, and more.
