The 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is the 41st edition of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It is organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a government agency. During the festival, no foreign films are shown in Philippine theaters (except IMAX, 4D, and large format 3D theaters).
The festival began on December 23, 2015, kicking off with the traditional Parada ng mga Artista (Parade of the Stars) 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 (Awards Night) 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 through a co-production with Viva Entertainment.
Metro Manila Film Festival reported that the total earnings of the festival was 1 billion pesos (December 25 – January 6 only). It did not report the earnings for each film.
This was the only festival under MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos.
Entries Regular entries The official list of entries was announced on June 20, 2015. From the 21 submissions, 8 were chosen for the festival.
Title StarringStudioDirectorGenre All You Need Is Pag-ibig Kris Aquino, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, Ronaldo Valdez, Pokwang, Nova Villa, Bimby Aquino-Yap, Julia Concio, Talia Concio Star Cinema Antoinette Jadaone Romantic comedy Beauty and the Bestie Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, James Reid, Nadine Lustre Star Cinema, Viva Films Wenn V. Deramas Comedy, action Buy Now, Die Later Vhong Navarro, John Lapus, Alex Gonzaga, TJ Trinidad, Rayver Cruz, Lotlot de Leon, Janine Gutierrez Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films Randolph Longjas Horror, comedy Haunted Mansion Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, Jerome Ponce Regal Entertainment Jun Lana Horror, suspense, thriller Honor Thy Father John Lloyd Cruz, Meryll Soriano, Tirso Cruz III Reality Entertainment Erik Matti Action, drama My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore Vic Sotto, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment, GMA Films, MEDA Productions Jose Javier Reyes Romantic comedy Nilalang Cesar Montano, Maria Ozawa Haunted Tower Pictures, WeLovePost, Parallax Studios, Viva Films Pedring Lopez Horror, action, thriller, crime #Walang Forever Jennylyn Mercado, Jericho Rosales Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films Dan Villegas Romantic comedy
New Wave entries Feature films The New Wave entries were screened on selected cinemas from December 17 to 24, 2015.
Title StarringStudioDirectorGenre ARI: My Life with a King Ronwaldo Martin, Francisco Guinto Holy Angel University, Center for Kapampangan Studies Carlo Enciso Catu Drama Mandirigma Luis Alandy, Pen Medina, Alwyn Uytingco, Mon Confiado Starquest Alliance Productions, Blank Pages Productions Arlyn Dela Cruz Drama Tandem JM de Guzman, Nico Antonio Quantum Films, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films King Palisoc Drama, thriller Toto Sid Lucero Toto SCM Production, Central Digital Lab John Paul Su Comedy, Drama Turo-Turo Albert Silos, AJ Dee Handheld Entertainment Production Ray An Dulay Drama
Short films Daisy - Brian Reyes Ding Mangasyas (Tough Guys) - Justine Emmanuel Dizon Lapis - Maricel Cariaga Momento - Kyle Nieva Mumu - Che Tagyamon
Animated films 8 - Johanna Kay Boncodin Buttons- Marvel Obemio, Francis Ramirez & Jared Garcia Geo - John Aurthur Mercader Little Lights - Rivelle Mallari Marvino's League of Superheroes - Ja Marti Escandor
Awards
Major awards Winners are listed first, highlighted with boldface and indicated with a double dagger (). Nominees are also listed if applicable.
Best Picture Best Director#Walang Forever – Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy FilmsBuy Now, Die Later – Quantum Films, MJM Production, Tuko Film Productions, Buchi Boy Films (2nd Best Picture) My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore – OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment, GMA Films, MEDA Productions (3rd Best Picture)
| valign="top" | 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 Actor Best ActressJericho Rosales – #Walang Forever John Lloyd Cruz – Honor Thy Father Ian Veneracion – All You Need Is Pag-ibigJennylyn 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 Actor Best Supporting ActressTirso 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: #KiligPaMoreMaine 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-ibigBest Child Performer Best 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-ibigPao 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 Screenplay Best Original StoryPaul Sta. Ana – #Walang Forever Michiko Yamamoto – Honor Thy Father Jose Javier Reyes – My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMoreDan 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 Design Best EditingAngel 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 – NilalangJason Cahapay – Nilalang Marya Ignacio – #Walang Forever Carlo Manatad – Buy Now, Die Later Benjamin Tolentino – All You Need Is Pag-ibig Best Visual Effects Best Make-up ArtistPedro 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 Song Best 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 Engineering Gatpuno 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: #KiligPaMoreMy Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore Best Float Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for ExcellenceBuy 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:
Best Picture – ARI: My Life with a King Best Director – John Paul Su, Toto Best Actor – JM de Guzman, Tandem & Francisco Guinto, ARI: My Life with a King Best Supporting Actor – Thou Reyes, Toto Best Supporting Actress – Bibeth Orteza, Toto Best Screenplay – Robert Tantingco, ARI: My Life with a King Special Jury Prize – Toto Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Picture – ARI: My Life with a King Best Short Film – Mumu by Jean Cheryl Tagyamon Short Film Special Jury Prize – Daisy by Brian Reyes Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Short Film – Momento by Jan-Kyle Nieva Best Animation Film – Buttons by Marvel Obemio, Francis Ramirez & Jared Garcia Animation Film Special Jury Prize – Lights Lights by Rivelle Mallari Manila Bulletin Entertainment Best Animation Film – Geo by John Aurthur Mercader
Multiple awards
Mainstream Awards Film6#Walang Forever5NilalangHonor Thy Father3Buy Now, Die LaterMy Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore2 All You Need is Pag-ibig
New Wave Awards Film4ARI: My Life with a KingToto
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. Villarica noted that his film, was shown in 20 cinemas in Metro Manila and seven 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 the MMFF Executive Committee, had 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