'GOMBURZA,' 'Mallari': MMFF 2023 announces remaining entries, expands list to 10

MANILA, Philippines — The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will have 10 films in competition instead of the usual eight.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) revealed today six more entries for MMFF 2023 to join the four previously announced last July.

The second batch of entries include "Becky and Badette," "Broken Hearts Trip," "Firefly," "GOMBURZA," "Mallari," and "When I Met You In Tokyo."

The six films join Nuel Naval's "A Mother and Son's Story" starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards, Dodo Dayao's horror movie "K(ampon)" starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay, Jason Paul Laxamana's fantasy-action flick "Penduko" starring Matteo Guidicelli and Cristine Reyes, and celebrity couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes' reunion movie "Rewind."

The first batch of entries were chosen based on script submissions, while the second batch were all completed films.

Related: MMFF 2023 announces first 4 official entries

Thirty movies were vying to compete at MMFF 2023, meaning, entries like "Pieta" starring Nora Aunor, "In His Mother's Eyes" starring Maricel Soriano, Mikhail Red's "Nokturno" starring Nadine Lustre, and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll EXTREME" all missed the cut.

Jun Robles Lana's "Becky and Badette" stars Eugene Domingo and Pokwang as two office cleaners eager to achieve their biggest dreams.

Christian Bables stars in the LGBTQ comedy "Broken Hearts Trip" alongside Jaclyn Jose, Teejay Marquez, Marvin Yap, Andoy Ranay, Iyah Mina, and Petite.

"Maria Clara at Ibarra" director Zig Dulay is behind the fantasy movie "Firefly" starring Alessandra de Rossi, Cherry Pie Picache, Yayo Aguila, Ysabel Ortega, Max Collins, Euwenn Mikaell, Epi Quizon, Miguel Tanfelix, with Dantes in a special role.

Pepe Diokno's "GOMBURZA" sees Enchong Dee, Cedrick Juan and Dante Rivero as titular martyr priests who were executed by garrote in 1872.

Related: 49TH MMFF: Stars,stories, themes of film fest’s first four official entries

"Mallari" will be Piolo Pascual's first-ever horror movie, playing multiple characters including the titular priest said to be the only recorded Filipino serial killer. Pascual also has a special role in "GOMBURZA."

"When I Met You In Tokyo" is the reunion film of Christopher de Leon and Vilma Santos, the latter's first feature in seven years, having not appeared together on the big screen since 2004's "Mano Po 3."

Last year's MMFF saw Red's "Deleter" also starring Lustre as the big winner with seven awards, followed by Best Picture runners-up "Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told" and "Nanahimik Ang Gabi," which both won five.

Earlier this year, the inaugural Summer MMFF was held last April, dominated by "About Us But Not About Us" starring Elijah Canlas and Roderick Sarmienta with a whopping 10 wins.

The 49th MMFF will run from December 25 into early January next year.

RELATED: 'About Us But Not About Us' sweeps inaugural Summer MMFF 2023