MMFF 2022: 8 reasons to go back…

There's no Vic Sotto, but there's Vice Ganda.

The 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival held its Parade of Stars late afternoon on 21 December in Quezon City — the floats of its eight entries blocking traffic for a few hours from the Welcome Rotunda to Quezon Avenue.

Though perennial MMFF presence Vic Sotto has no entry this year, the annual festival of Filipino movies hopes to draw Filipinos back to cinemas following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

What to expect from this year-ender event, where many families traditionally spend a few hours of their holiday break. It opens 25 December and runs till 7 January 2023.

Deleter, directed by Mikhael Red, is a psychological horror movie starring Nadine Lustre as Lyra, an online content moderator who filters and deletes graphic and disturbing material on social media. But the story takes a dark turn when she's haunted by her past and a mysterious, vengeful presence.

The action-drama Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told is based on the true story of Oplan Exodus, the 2015 police operation to arrest terrorists and rebels claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force officers. It stars Edu Manzano, Aljur Abrenica, Paolo Gumabao, Alan Paule, Rey Abellana, Gerald Santos, Rez Cortez, Juan Rodrigo, Jervic Cajarop, and Claudine Barretto. Directed by Lester Dimaranan from a screenplay by Eric Ramos.

In My Father, Myself, Jake Cuenca plays Robert, a family man married to Amanda (Dimples Romana) with a daughter, Mica (Tiffany Grey). Conflict develops when Robert adopts Matthew (Sean de Guzman), whose biological father, Domeng (Allan Paule), is Robert's deceased lover. The plot takes a twisted direction when Mica and Matthew get romantically involved, at the same time that Robert gives in to Matthew's sexual innuendoes. Directed by Joel Lamangan, screenplay by Quinn Carrillo.

Nanahimik ang Gabi is about Me-ann (Heaven Peralejo), the paramour of a corrupt policeman (Ian Veneracion). Trouble erupts when an intruder, (Mon Confiado), disrupts the couple's weekend tryst.

Written and directed by Shugo Praico.

Labyu With an Accent depicts characters with different yet connected circumstances — Trisha (Jodi Sta. Maria), an Overseas Filipino Worker, and Gabo (Coco Martin) who's struggling to make ends meet in the Philippines. Directed by Martin himself.

In the comedy Partners in Crime, Vice Ganda and Ivana Alawi play an ex-couple who meet again and plan a caper. Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina

Family Matters is about a household whose patriarch (Noel Trinidad) suffers a stroke while his six children (Mylene Dizon, JC Santos, Nonie Buencamino, James Blanco, Nikki Valdez, and Ian Pangilinan) clash over various issues. Liza Lorena plays Trinidad's wife, while Agot Isidro is Buencamino's wife. Directed by Nuel Naval.

My Teacher, whose lead star Toni Gonzaga also wrote the script, explores the story of an elderly high school dropout (Joey de Leon) going back to his studies and learning to adjust with young classmates. Directed by Paul Soriano.