The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), now celebrating its 50th year, runs from 25 December 2024 to 7 January 2025. With a stellar lineup of high-caliber films featuring the industry's biggest stars, there's something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.

1. And the Breadwinner  Is…

Directed by Jun Robles Lana

Cast: Vice Ganda, Jhong Hilario, Eugene Domingo, Maris Racal, Gladys Reyes, Kokoy de Santso, Joel Torre, Anthony Jennings

And The Breadwinner Is… is a heartfelt drama-comedy that follows Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda), an OFW who tirelessly supports her family in the Philippines. However, upon returning home, Bambi discovers that the sacrifices she made haven’t brought the changes she hoped for.

A poignant tribute to breadwinners, the film resonates deeply with those carrying the weight of their family’s dreams, capturing the struggles and triumphs of being the backbone of a household.

2. Espantaho

Directed By Chito S. Roño

Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino, JC Santos, Mon Confiado, Nico Antonio, Donna Cariaga, Kian Co, Archi Adamos, Chanda Romero, Eugene Domingo, Tommy Abuel, Janice de Belen

Espantaho is a gripping drama-thriller centering on Monet (Santos) and her mother Rosa (Tolentino), who fiercely fight to retain their late patriarch Pabling's land. Their struggle pits them against Pabling's legal wife Adele (Romero), who is determined to sell the property.

As tensions rise, supernatural forces emerge, unraveling chilling secrets that bind both families in a web of mystery and conflict.

3. Greenbones

Directed by Zig Dulay

Cast: Dennis Trillo, Sofia Pablo, Ruru Madrid, Wendell Ramos, Michael de Mesa

Green Bones follows the gripping story of a man behind bars (Dennis Trillo), accused of the heinous crime of murdering his own sister and daughter.

Ruru Madrid portrays a determined prison guard who will stop at nothing to ensure the prisoner remains locked away, driven by a belief in justice — or perhaps vengeance.

The film raises a powerful question: Can a criminal truly change, and how can we ever know for sure?

4. Hold Me Close

Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana

Cast: Julia Barretto, Carlo Aquino, Jairus Aquino, Migo Valid

Hold Me Close is a drama that tells the story of Woody (Aquino), a wanderer who spent seven years traveling the world in search of a place to call home. His journey leads him to Lynlyn (Baretto), a girl he meets in Japan with a unique gift — she can sense whether people will bring joy or harm into her life just by touching them.

As their paths intertwine, both Woody and Lynlyn embark on a journey not just across the world, but into the depths of their hearts, discovering what truly matters in life and love.

5. Himala, Isang Musikal 

Directed By Pepe Diokno

Cast: Aicelle Santos, Bituin Escalante, Floyd Tena, Neomi Gonzales, Kakki Teodoro, Vic Robinson, Joann Co

Himala, Isang Musikal is a captivating theatrical adaptation of the iconic 1982 film Himala, telling the story of a young woman who claims to have witnessed the Virgin Mary during a solar eclipse.

As she gains a following, her miraculous vision sparks a deep sense of hope and faith. However, as the narrative unfolds, she soon discovers that not everything is as it seems, and the truth behind her vision may hold darker realities.

6. My Future You

Directed By Crisanto Aquino

Cast: Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Christian Vazquez, Almira Muhlach

My Future You is a charming romantic comedy that follows the journey of Karen (Diaz) and Lex (Fedelin), two young lovers who meet through a dating app, only to discover that they are in two different timelines.

Despite living 15 years apart, the couple strives to navigate the complexities of their separate worlds, desperately trying to change their fates and find a way to be together.

This heartfelt film explores themes of love, destiny, and the power of time, offering an engaging story of how far one would go for love, even when time itself stands in the way.

7. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital

Directed By Erik Matti

Cast: Enrique Gil, Jane de Leon, Alexa Miro, MJ Lastimosa

If you're looking to switch from the festive holiday vibe to something darker this Christmas, Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital might just be the perfect choice.

This Philippine adaptation of the Korean horror film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum follows a group of young Filipino actors as they venture into one of Taiwan’s most haunted locations, the Xinglin General Hospital in Tainan.

With eerie encounters and chilling supernatural events, this horror flick promises to give you a truly terrifying holiday experience.

8. The Kingdom

Directed By Mike Tuviera

Cast: Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual, Kristine Reyes, Sid Lucero, Sue Ramirez, Cedrick Juan, Nico Antonio, Zion Cruz

Contrary to his usual comedic roles, Vic Sotto delves into a more serious character in this action family drama.

Set in an alternate timeline where the Philippines was never colonized by the Spaniards, the film explores themes of tradition, heritage, and personal conflict.

Sotto portrays Lakan Makisig, a man caught between his duty to his people and the personal emotions that challenge his path, offering a new and gripping side to the beloved actor.

9. Topakk

Directed By Richard V. Somes

Cast: Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Sid Lucero, Kokoy De Santos

Topakk (also known as Triggered) follows the intense journey of Miguel (Atayde), an ex-platoon leader turned security guard, who finds himself thrust into a perilous situation.

Struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, Miguel risks everything to save the life of a woman (Montes), who is targeted by a corrupt police death squad working for a drug cartel.

This action-packed thriller explores themes of survival, trauma, and justice in a high-stakes environment.

10. Uninvited

Directed by Dan Villegas

Cast: Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, Aga Muhlach, Gabby Padilla, Elijah Canlas, Ketchup Eusebio, Gio Alvarez, Cholo Barretto, Ron Angeles, Mylene Dizon, Lotlot de Leon, Tirso Cruz III

In Uninvited, Eva Candelaria (Santos) seeks justice for her daughter’s murder, which she believes was orchestrated by billionaire Guilly Vega (Muhlach).

Ten years after the tragic event, Eva crashes Vega’s lavish birthday party disguised as a socialite, determined to make him pay for his past crimes.

As the tension builds, Eva’s singular mission of revenge takes her deep into a world of deception and danger.