Manila International Film Festival announces Hollywood screening schedule

Thousands lined up to watch the recent Parade of Stars, a beloved tradition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The 10 MMFF entries this year will also premiere in the inaugural Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles from January 29 to February 2, 2024. King Rodriguez/Daily Tribune, courtesy of MMFF.

The inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) recently announced the screening schedule of its films, which comprise the 10 entries of the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

These films representing various genres and offering entertaining fare, starring the most exciting actors in Philippine cinema and directed by ace filmmakers, will premiere at the MIFF from January 29 to February 2 in two prestigious venues in Hollywood, the TCL Chinese Theatres and the Directors Guild of America.

MIFF moviegoers will be among the first to watch the 10 films after their nationwide debut in the Philippines through the MMFF from December 25 to January 7. The 49^th MMFF was recently kicked off with its beloved Christmas tradition, the Parade of Stars which this year snaked its way from Navotas to Valenzuela.

Thousands of people cheered and applauded the floats bearing the stars of the ten MMFF entries: Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang; Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip” (Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay); Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two” (Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards); Zig Dulay’s “Firefly” (Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell); Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa” (Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan); King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon” (Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay); Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari” (Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador); Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa); Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind” (Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes); and Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo” (Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon).

With that lineup of star-studded MMFF entries, the MIFF in LA promises to be a very special one as well. Each of the ten entries will be screened three times throughout the five-day film festival in Los Angeles.

All screenings and events will be at the TCL Chinese Theatres unless otherwise indicated below. TCL Chinese Theatres is located on the third level of the Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood & Highland), 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.

On the MIFF’s closing day, the screenings will both be at the TCL Chinese Theatres and DGA, located at 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Filipino film lovers or movie aficionados and fans and followers of the featured stars in the entries, mark your calendars now. MIFF announced the following schedule:

Monday, January 29 – Opening day

3:00pm – 5:08pm

Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon

4:30pm- 6:16pm

Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang

5:55pm – 7:55pm

Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards

7:25pm – 9:58pm

Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Sponsored opening night – VIP reception

8:35pm – 10:45pm

Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,”  starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes

Tuesday, January 30

3:00pm – 4:44pm

Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan

4:30pm – 6:19pm

Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa

5:55pm – 7:55pm

Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Sponsored VIP lounge – Industry mixer

7:25pm – 9:32pm

Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay

8:55pm – 10:42pm

King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay

Wednesday, January 31

3:00pm – 4:55pm

Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,”  starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes

4:30pm – 6:16pm

Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards

6:00pm – 7:55pm

Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Sponsored VIP Lounge – Industry Mixer

7:25pm – 9:53pm

Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon

8:55pm – 10:56pm

Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang

Thursday, February 1

3:00pm – 4:45pm

Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell

4:30pm – 6:02pm

King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay

5:45pm – 7:53pm

Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador

7:00pm – 10:00pm

Sponsored VIP champagne lounge (Industry mixer/After-party)

7:25pm – 9:29pm

Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan

8:50pm – 10:54pm

Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa

Friday, February 2 – Closing day

12:00pm – 1:45pm Directors Guild of America Theater 1

Zig Dulay’s “Firefly,” starring Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell

12:00pm – 1:49pm Directors Guild of America Theater 2

Jason Paul Laxamana’s “Penduko,” starring Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa

12:00pm – 1:32pm Directors Guild of America Theater 3

King Palisoc’s “(K)Ampon,” starring Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay

3:00pm – 4:55pm Directors Guild of America Theater 1

Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Rewind,”  starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes

3:00pm – 5:08pm Directors Guild of America Theater 2

Derick Cabrido’s “Mallari,” starring Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador

3:00pm – 4:40pm Directors Guild of America Theater 3

Nuel Naval’s “Family of Two,” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards

12:00pm – 2:08 pm TCL Chinese Theatres

Conrado Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon’s “When I Met You in Tokyo,” starring Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon

1:00pm – 2:46pm TCL Chinese Theatres

Jun Robles Lana’s “Becky and Badette,” starring Eugene Domingo and Pokwang

3:00pm – 4:47pm TCL Chinese Theatres

Lemuel Lorca’s “Broken Heart’s Trip,” starring Christian Bables and Andoy Ranay

4:00pm – 5:44pm TCL Chinese Theatres

Pepe Diokno’s “GomBurZa,” starring Enchong Dee, Dante Rivero, Piolo Pascual and Cedrick Juan

5:00pm – 6:00pm DGA – Closing night awards gala

Red carpet arrivals

6:00pm – 10:30pm DGA Grand Lobby

Closing night awards gala

Watch for announcements on how to buy early bird tickets.

MIFF was launched in glittering rites at the DGA last November. Gracing the occasion were stars and officials from the U.S. and Manila. led by Enchong Dee, Kaladkaren, Romnick Sarmenta, and Eisel Serrano, filmmakers Jun Robles Lana, Perci Intalan, and JP Habac Jr., MMFF overall chairman, Atty. Romando Artes, and Executive Director, Atty. Rochelle Ona, MIFF president Ebradu Udarbe, chairman Ortiz, and executive producer Lisa Lew.

A highlight of the launch at the DGA was a screening of three films chosen from the eight entries in the inaugural summer edition of MMFF (Metro Manila Summer Film Festival – MMSFF) held last April in the Philippines.

These well-received films were Chris Martinez’s “Here Comes the Groom”; JP Habac’s “Love You Long Time”; and Jun Robles Lana’s “About Us But Not About Us.” The latter went on to be submitted to the 81^st Golden Globe Awards.

The MIFF founders are Omen Ortiz, Ebradu Udarbe, Lisa Lew, Ruben Nepales and Janet Nepales, media relations consultants, and Celia Abaya Dy, ticketing manager. Also on the MIFF team are Leo Dela Cruz, chief financial officer; Erickson Ilog, chief operations officer; Ron Ramores, chief marketing officer; Cindy Sison, consultant; and Meriden Angeles, coordinating producer.

For MIFF sponsorship inquiries, contact Erickson Ilog ([email protected]) and Ron Ramores ([email protected]).