The 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival marks its 50th anniversary with a series of events including nostalgic murals and screenings of 50 classic films.

As it marks its 50th anniversary, the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is shaping up to be the most exciting edition of the biggest, the most anticipated and the widely followed film festival in the Philippines.

The Metro Manila Development Authority and the MMFF Executive Committee headed by Atty. Don Artes are leaving no stones unturned and doing everything to make this year’s festival truly memorable and meaningful.

Recently, the MMDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create murals that will showcase iconic films from the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as part of the celebration of its 50th anniversary this year.

Under the partnership, iAcademy students will paint the murals featuring some MMFF film posters from the past 50 years, providing the audience with a colorful and nostalgic art display, along EDSA.

“We will make EDSA nostalgic through murals of hand-painted movie posters to celebrate the rich history of MMFF,” said Atty Don, citing that the agency is contacting hand-painted movie poster artists to collaborate with the iAcademy students. The MMDA has previously partnered with iAcademy, a specialized Computing, Business, and Design academic institution, together with Boysen on a mural painting activity with the theme focused on road Safety, which aligns with the mandate and advocacy of the MMDA. This time, it’ll be iconic posters of classic MMFF entries aimed at not only beautifying the walls along EDSA through the students’ artwork but also help promote the MMFF 50th edition under the theme “Sine-Sigla sa Singkwenta.”

One of the proposed locations for the murals is along EDSA, from Buendia to Ayala, which is approximately 653 meters in length.

Corollary to this effort is the program that will make 50 classic MMFF films accessible to our general public at only P50 admission price, starting this September 25 until October 15 at selected cinemas nationwide

The classic MMFF films include “Insiang,” “Mano Po,” “Crying Ladies,” “Ang Panday” (1980), “Big Night,” “Ang Tanging Ina Mo,” “Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo,” “Langis at Tubig,” “Blue Moon,” “Ang Panday” (2009) , “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon,” “Walang Forever,” “Bulaklak ng Maynila,” “Moral,” “Himala,” “Captain Barbell” (1986), “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising,” “Ang Alamat ng Lawin,” “Ang Larawan,” “Shake, Rattle, and Roll II,” “Atsay,” “Mga Bilanggong Birhen,” “Kung Mawawala Ka Pa,” “Die Beautiful,” “Agila ng Maynila,” “Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga,” “May Minamahal,” “Sunday Beauty Queen,” “Magic Temple,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2,” “Brutal,” “Markova,” “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” “Darna” (1991), “Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing,” “Karnal,” “Tanging Yaman,” “Firefly,” “Bonifacio ang Unang Pangulo,” “Karma,” “One More Try,” “Imortal,” “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo,” “Okay Ka Fairy Ko,” “Yamashita the Tiger’s Treasure,” “Gandarrapido Revenger Squad,” “Feng Shui II” and “Rainbow’s Sunset.”

The restored version of “Jose Rizal” (GMA Films) will serve as the Opening Feature Film and a rare and special MMFF award-winning obra maestra — to be announced later — will serve as the closing film.

On top of all these, movie workers’ wellbeing is a priority of the MMDA and MMFF. Thus, there will be an industry-wide Serbisyo Fair to be held on October 6-7. This initiative of the MMDA/MMFF and the National Secretariat from the Philippine Government will be participated in by the Mowelfund, FDCP, FAP, AKTOR, MTRCB and the various entertainment press groups where various and very valuable government services shall be made available to film industry workers. This underscores the MMFF’s commitment to the welfare of all the stakeholders so that they can function well and maintain a comfortable work-life balance.

And this is just the beginning. Later on we’ll get to know the rest of the films that will complete the roster of official entries to the 50th MMFF, the plans for the grand parade on December 15 and award ceremonies in December 27.

We all are a part of the MMFF’s 50th edition, and each of us would have a very distinct and memorable MMFF story; and we continue to share and craft the very important MMFF history. That said, we also continue to celebrate each other as we celebrate the MMFF and the triumph of Filipino film against all odds. Tuloy lang!