Catch 49th MMFF Best Picture ‘Firefly’ (and more) in LA this 2024

Still from “Firefly” official trailer on YouTube

Once upon a time, we were so sure that our lives would unfold like the fairy tales we read in childhood. We believed that magic existed beyond bedtime stories and that “happily ever after” was every tale’s only ending. Adulthood seemed to be a huge spoilsport, though, and we soon discovered that none of those mystical worlds were real.

But what if there’s a glimmer of truth in those books—maybe not exactly as we envisioned, but in a more subtle (and realistic) way? What if magic does exist and can be found in the mundane, like our everyday struggles and the connections we make?

Well, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2023’s Best Picture “Firefly” is set to depart for Los Angeles in 2024 to take Filipino American audiences (and potentially even non-Filipino moviegoers) on a cinematic journey that might just rekindle the forgotten sparks of our childhood innocence.

“Firefly” takes flight from MMFF to MIFF

Aside from bagging the coveted Best Picture award, “Firefly” also won Best Screenplay (Angeli Atienza) and Best Child Performer (Euwenn Mikaell) at the recently concluded 49th MMFF Gabi ng Parangal. The film had a total of 14 nominations: Zig Dulay (“Maria Clara at Ibarra,” “Black Rainbow”) as Best Director, Epy Quizon and Dingdong Dantes as Best Supporting Actor, and Alessandra de Rossi as Best Supporting Actress, among others.

It follows the quest of 10-year-old Tonton (Mikaell) who often gets bullied by the bigger boys in his school. To encourage him, his mother Elay (de Rossi) spins a tale of bravery—a narrative where a firefly conquers an island beast with its light. They both make a promise to explore the cave where magical fireflies reside, but a tragedy strikes, and Tonton is left to fulfill the promise alone.

He meets a group of unlikely companions along the way, each dealing with their own losses and searching for redemption. Several riddles, challenges, and revelations later, they finally reached the “island of fireflies.” Does it live up to his mother’s descriptive narration, though?

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Fun fact: 95 percent of the movie was shot in natural lighting. According to cinematographer Neil Daza, pulling off consistent lighting continuity in films, especially in equatorial regions such as the Philippines, is “quite a daunting task.” “Every shooting day, from Baseco to Sorsogon, became a challenge to chase the right sunlight and what’s left of it by 6 p.m.,” he added.

Fascinated? The 2024 Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) is bringing “Firefly” to Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatres on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1—with an additional screening at the Directors Guild of America theater on Feb. 2. So, in case you want to know what it’s like to be in a world where even the smallest among us can shine, it might be best to book your tickets early on.

Other MMFF ’23 entries are showing, too

“Firefly” isn’t the only must-watch film at the MIFF, though. The film festival also offers a big spread of Filipino cinematic treats that cater to every taste.

If you’re a history buff with a penchant for suspense, you’d probably want to dive into the past via “GomBurZa” and “Mallari.” These movies clinched the second and third spots for Best Picture at the MMFF, promising a seamless blend of history and creative imagination.

In the mood for (familial) love and/or tears? Fourth best picture “When I Met You in Tokyo” starring Best Actress Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, “Rewind” starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, and “Family of Two” starring Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards can be your best bets.

Meanwhile, “Becky & Badette” and “Broken Hearts Trip” are perfect for film enthusiasts craving campy (but sensible) comedy—and “Kampon” for those who want some good Filipino horror fix.

(P.S. The full MIFF 2024 schedule has already been released, so you may check it out yourself and see when to catch the films you’re eyeing.)