MMFF rakes in P640 M in one week

MANILA, Philippines – The eight entries to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) raked in P640 million in gross earnings seven days after the films started screening on Dec. 25, organizers announced yesterday.

The P640 million one-week gross is higher than the earnings of the 2013 MMFF for the same period, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos said.

Carlos serves as MMFF chairman.

According to the MMFF, Walang Forever, a romantic comedy starring Jennylyn?Mercado and Jericho Rosales, remains as one of the top four big earners.

The film bagged the Best Picture, Best Story and Best Screenplay awards as well as the FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence during the MMFF Awards Night on Dec. 27.

Rosales and Mercado were adjudged Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.

Other top earners are My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More, a romantic comedy starring Ai-Ai de las Alas and Vic Sotto with Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza; Beauty and the Bestie, which stars Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, and the horror film Haunted Mansion starring Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel and Jerome Ponce.

Controversy marred the 2015 MMFF after the film Honor Thy Father had been disqualified from being nominated in the Best Picture category.

The film festival started on Dec. 25 and will end on Jan. 7.