2015 Metro Manila Film Festival


The 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival is the 41st edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The festival began on December 23, 2015, kicking off with the traditional Parada ng mga Artista float parade from Mall of Asia in Pasay to Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Showings are from December 25 until January 7.
The Gabi ng Parangal was held on December 27 at the Kia Theatre, Araneta Center, Quezon City, hosted by KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez. Both the Parade of Stars and the Awards Night are aired via delayed telecast on TV5 thru a co-production with Viva Entertainment.
Metro Manila Film Festival reported that the total earnings of the festival was 1 billion pesos. It did not report the earnings for each film.
This was the only festival under MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos.

Entries

Official entries

The official list of entries was announced on June 20, 2015. From the 21 submissions, 8 were chosen for the festival.
TitleStarringStudioDirectorGenre
All You Need Is Pag-ibigKris Aquino, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, Ronaldo Valdez, Pokwang, Nova Villa, Bimby Aquino-Yap, Julia Concio, Talia ConcioStar CinemaAntoinette JadaoneRomantic comedy
Beauty and the BestieVice Ganda, Coco Martin, James Reid, Nadine LustreStar Cinema, Viva FilmsWenn V. DeramasComedy, Action
Buy Now, Die LaterVhong Navarro, John Lapus, Alex Gonzaga, TJ Trinidad, Rayver Cruz, Lotlot de Leon, Janine GutierrezQuantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy FilmsRandolph LongjasHorror, Comedy
Haunted MansionJanella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, Jerome PonceRegal EntertainmentJun LanaHorror, Suspense, Thriller
Honor Thy FatherJohn Lloyd Cruz, Meryll Soriano, Tirso Cruz IIIReality EntertainmentErik MattiAction, Drama
My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMoreVic Sotto, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza
OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment, GMA Films, MEDA Productions		Jose Javier ReyesRomantic comedy
NilalangCesar Montano, Maria OzawaHaunted Tower Pictures, WeLovePost, Parallax Studios, Viva FilmsPedring LopezHorror, Action, Thriller, Crime
#Walang ForeverJennylyn Mercado, Jericho RosalesQuantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy FilmsDan VillegasRomantic comedy

New Wave entries

The New Wave entries were screened on selected cinemas from December 17 to December 24, 2015.
TitleStarringStudioDirectorGenre
ARI: My Life with a KingRonwaldo Martin, Francisco GuintoHoly Angel University, Center for Kapampangan StudiesCarlo Enciso CatuDrama
MandirigmaLuis Alandy, Pen Medina, Alywn Uytingco, Mon ConfiadoStarquest Alliance Productions, Blank Pages ProductionsArlyn Dela CruzDrama
TandemJM de Guzman, Nico AntonioQuantum Films, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy FilmsKing PalisocDrama, Thriller
TotoSid LuceroToto SCM Production, Central Digital LabJohn Paul SuComedy, Drama
Turo-TuroAlbert Silos, AJ DeeHandheld Entertainment ProductionRay An DulayDrama

Short films

Major awards

The following are the winners of the mainstream category:
Best PictureBest Director

  • #Walang Forever – Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions,
    Buchi Boy Films
  • *Buy Now, Die Later – Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions,
    Buchi Boy Films
  • *My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore – OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions,
    APT Entertainment, GMA Films, MEDA Productions
  • Erik Matti – Honor Thy Father
  • *Antoinette Jadaone – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • *Randolph Longjas – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Jose Javier Reyes – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • *Dan Villegas – #Walang Forever
    • Best ActorBest Actress
  • Jericho Rosales – #Walang Forever
  • *John Lloyd Cruz – Honor Thy Father
  • *Ian Veneracion – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • Jennylyn Mercado – #Walang Forever
  • *Ai-Ai delas Alas – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • *Meryll Soriano – Honor Thy Father
  • *Jodi Sta. Maria – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
    • Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress
  • Tirso Cruz III – Honor Thy Father
  • *Dido de la Paz – Nilalang
  • *Pepe Herrera – #Walang Forever
  • *TJ Trinidad – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Alden Richards – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • Maine Mendoza – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • *Iza Calzado – Haunted Mansion
  • *Lotlot De Leon – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Kim Molina – #Walang Forever
  • *Nova Villa – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
    • Best Child PerformerBest Cinematography
  • Krystal Brimner – Honor Thy Father
  • *Sol de Guzman – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Alonzo Muhlach – Beauty and the Bestie
  • *Marco Masa – Beauty and the Bestie
  • *Julia & Talia Concio – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • Pao Orendain – Nilalang
  • *Hermann Claravall – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • *Ber Cruz – Honor Thy Father
  • *Mackie Galvez – #Walang Forever
  • *Pong Ignacio – Buy Now, Die Later
    • Best ScreenplayBest Original Story
  • Paul Sta. Ana – #Walang Forever
  • *Michiko Yamamoto – Honor Thy Father
  • *Jose Javier Reyes – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • Dan Villegas & Antoinette Jadaone – #Walang Forever
  • *Michiko Yamamoto & Erik Matti – Honor Thy Father
  • *Bibeth Orteza – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • *Ronald Allan Habon – Buy Now, Die Later
    • Best Production DesignBest Editing
  • Angel Diesta – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Shari Marie Montiague – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • *Ericson Navarro – Honor Thy Father
  • *Jerann Ordinario – Haunted Mansion
  • *Mimi Sanson Viola – Nilalang
  • Jason Cahapay – Nilalang
  • *Marya Ignacio – #Walang Forever
  • *Carlo Manatad – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Benjamin Tolentino – All You Need Is Pag-ibig
    • Best Visual EffectsBest Make-up Artist
  • Pedro Chuidian & Rommel Pambid – Nilalang
  • *Imaginary Friends – Haunted Mansion
  • *John Kenneth Paclibar, Emman Bares, Raffy Legaspi & Jasper Bundoc – Buy Now, Die Later
  • Ryan Panaligan & Erika Racela – Honor Thy Father
  • *Richard Carvajal & Alice Soro Collara – Nilalang
  • *Lei Ponce – Buy Now, Die Later
    • Best Original Theme SongBest Musical Score
  • "Tao" from Honor Thy Father
  • *"All You Need Is Pag-ibig" from All You Need Is Pag-ibig
  • *"Greyhoundz Lions" from Nilalang
  • Jessie Lasaten – Nilalang
  • *Vincent de Jesus – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • *Erwin Romulo – Honor Thy Father
  • *Jerrold Tarog – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Emerson Texon – #Walang Forever
    • Best Sound EngineeringGatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award
  • Ditoy Aguila – Nilalang
  • *Mikka Quizon – Honor Thy Father
  • *Addiss Tabong – Buy Now, Die Later
  • *Addiss Tabong – #Walang Forever
  • *Wild Sound – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
  • My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore
    • Best FloatFernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence
  • Buy Now, Die Later
  • #Walang Forever

    • Other awards

  • Plaque of Appreciation – Francis Tolentino
  • Male Celebrity of the Night – Cesar Montano
  • Female Celebrity of the Night – Jennylyn Mercado

    New Wave category

    • The following are the winners of the New Wave category:

    Mainstream

    New Wave

    Controversies

    Ticket-swapping incidents

    Alleged ticket-swapping incidents occurred in some branches of SM Cinema during the opening day of the festival. Some moviegoers claimed that they bought tickets for My Bebe Love but instead, were given tickets for Beauty and the Bestie. SM Cinema confirmed through its Twitter account that this incident occurred in SM City Bacoor. According to SM Cinema, the incident was "a mistake due to high volume of tickets purchased". They also assured the public that this transaction will be counted fairly for the gross sales of My Bebe Love. These tweets were later deleted for unknown reasons.
    On the other hand, the Metro Manila Film Festival committee released a contrary statement regarding this issue. It is stated that they "strongly denies the existence of such" incident and they called the issue "baseless".
    The House committee on Metro Manila Development, chaired by Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo, started the probe on the disqualification case of Honor Thy Father and the ticket-swapping incidents in January 2016.

    ''Honor Thy Father'' disqualification

    On December 26, Honor Thy Father, was disqualified by the Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee from the Best Picture category after the film failed to disclose its participation as the opening film of the 2015 Cinema One Originals Film Festival. On the contrary, Dondon Monteverde, the film's producer, revealed that they did disclose this information beforehand. He attested that its premiere at the Cinema One festival didn't generate revenue which complies by the rules. He also questioned the timing of this decision, one day before the awards ceremony, and he demanded an investigation.
    In an interview dated on November 2, 2015, MMFF Executive Committee member Dominic Du revealed to Philippine Entertainment Portal that the film did comply with the rules as the Cinema One premiere wasn't a commercial screening.
    On December 28, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, who is part of the cast of Honor Thy Father, filed a resolution that directs the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry regarding the disqualification of Honor Thy Father.
    The committee on Metro Manila Development, chaired by Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo, started the probe on the disqualification case of Honor Thy Father and the ticket-swapping incidents in January 2016.

    Pullout of ''Nilalang'' and ''Honor Thy Father'' from some cinemas

    Nilalang director Pedring Lopez and co-producer Wesley Villarica expressed dismay over the pullout of their film and co-entrant film, Honor thy Father from some cinemas in favor of My Bebe Love and Beauty and the Bestie. Villarica noted that his film, was shown in 20 cinemas in Metro Manila and 7 theaters outside the metropolis in the opening day on December 25, but by next day less than 20 cinemas are screening his film. Honor Thy Father writer Michiko Yamamoto said that her film was pulled out from ten theaters the day after the opening day of the festival.

    Conflict of interest against Dominic Du

    During the House probe on the MMFF irregularities, it was revealed that Dominic Du, a member of MMFF Executive Committee have a conflict of interest with the Best Picture winner, #Walang Forever and 2nd Best Picture winner, Buy Now, Die Later. Dominic Du owns the company, Axinite Digicinema, that helped promote the said two films. He also serves as a legal counsel of Joji Alonso, the producer of both films.

    Box Office gross

    The Metro Manila Development Authority was criticized for not releasing official earnings of each film. This led to some film studios releasing their own earnings.