MMFF New Wave 2014 independent film finalists

MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) New Wave Section for independent films, student short and animation films received a record-breaking number of entries to celebrate its fourth year. Stiff competition will be faced by 18 full-feature entries, 88 student short entries and 18 animation entries for the selection of finalists, all of which are creatively diverse and insightful of the Filipino psyche.

Of the total 124 entries, only five full-length films, five student short films and five animation films will be adjudged as finalists and will be shown from Dec. 17 to 24 at Glorietta 4 and SM Megamall theaters. The five full-length feature finalists will also have commercial screenings in at least 20 theaters in Metro Manila next year.

The MMFF, with the full support of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will launch a full slate of promotional activities to generate even more excitement and awareness among the public for the New Wave Section. These include the Are You Ready campaign that will establish the MMFF as the culminating and final film event of the year which encompasses not only full-length Filipino films from multi-awarded and well-known filmmakers but also fresh animation and student talents in the industry.

MMDA chairman and MMFF overall chairman Francis Tolentino revealed that the marketing campaign is a “call for entries and call for audience” to get the word out that the MMFF also has a New Wave section that features independent, student and animation films.

“This year will see the debut of the Are You Ready campaign where people from all walks of life, including celebrities, artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, movers and shakers of the independent film industry, will drop everything that they are doing just to watch MMFF New Wave Section because the movies are a breath of fresh air and nothing like they’ve seen before,” he said.

He added that the campaign hopes to encourage filmmakers and the Filipino audience alike to support the Filipino talent and creativity by participating in the MMFF New Wave Film Festival either as an entry or as audience.

The Full-Length Best Picture will receive a cash prize of P300,000 while the Special Jury Prize will be awarded with P200,000 cash prize.

For Student Short Films, the Best Picture will get P50,000 and P25,000 each for special awards.

On the other hand, a P100,000 cash prize awaits the Best Picture in the Animation category.

Meanwhile, the submission for the CinePhone competition, a cellphone movie-making competition for high school and college students nationwide, has been extended to Nov. 7 with the theme Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation.