MMFF 2013's 11-day box-office hits P875M

MANILA, Philippines – This year’s Metro Manila Film Festival is shaping up to be the most successful edition of the annual movie event.

In a radio interview on Sunday, January 5, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino said gross earnings of the 39th MMFF have reached P875 million after 11 days.

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“Pinapakita na kahit anong batikos siguro sa MMFF, sinusuportahan pa rin ng ating mga kababayan,” Tolentino said, adding he believes the over-all gross for this year’s MMFF could reach up to P900 M.  

Tolentino shared “My Little Bossings” is still the 2013 MMFF top grosser, followed by “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy,” “Pagpag,” and “Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel.”

The other MMFF entries this year include “Boy Golden,” “Kaleidoscope World,” “Pedro Calungsod: Ang Batang Martir,” and the festival Best Picture winner “10,000 Hours.”

In the same radio interview, Tolentino shared the MMFF’s judging process following critics expressed discontent over the annual film festival.

Last week, producers of the Eugene Domingo-starrer “Kimmy Dora: Ang Kiyemeng Prequel ”— namely Erickson Raymundo, Piolo Pascual, Joyce Bernal, and Shayne Sarte—released a statement airing their dismay over the award results of the MMFF.

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“Bago po sila (jurors) nag-jugding, nagkaroon ho yan ng training on how to appreciate films on the basis of scoring kung ano yung criteria sang-ayon sa regulations ng MMFF,” Tolentino explained. “Sila lang po ang nakakaalam noong judging. Secluded po sila sa isang lugar. Pinanood po nila yan, nagbra-brainstorm sila, nag-uusap sila before the jot down yung score.”

He added: “And kapag nakuha na yung score, hindi alam ng ibang judges kung ano yung score nung katabi niya… Wala pong nakaalam (nung results) in advance.”

Tolentino also explained that being part of an MMFF entry does not automatically guarantee a nomination for an MMFF award.

 â€œDadaan ka pa rin sa criteria. Yan po yung mga binago natin e, nung tayo’y unang nanungkulan dyan. Dati-rati kasi, kapag top-grosser ka na, Best Picture ka e. Inalis po natin yun para mabigyan yung aspeto ng merito at ng quality ng isang pelikula,” he said.