The country’s most beloved yuletide cinematic tradition is back — and with it, a fresh wave of stories that reflect the evolving heart of the Filipino audience.
Now on its 51st year, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has officially entered a new chapter, unveiling the first four official entries for its 2025 edition during a vibrant grand launch held at the Glorietta Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati City. Coming off the heels of last year’s widely celebrated Golden Jubilee, this year’s lineup sets the stage for a dynamic and daring showcase of Filipino filmmaking — one that embraces both tradition and transformation.
“These first four films are only the beginning,” said MMFF and MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes, addressing the crowd of filmmakers, press, and fans. “We’re ushering in a new era — an MMFF that is artistically vibrant, culturally rooted and globally ambitious.”
THE FIRST FOUR: FILMS OF PROMISE AND POWER
Carefully selected from 23 script submissions, the first wave of entries reveals an exciting cross-section of genres and themes — from mind-bending comedy to searing drama, high-stakes action to iconic horror.
1. Call Me Mother
Genre: Comedy Drama
Production: ABS-CBN Film Productions, The IdeaFirst Company & Viva Communications, Inc.
Director: Jun Robles Lana
Lead Stars: Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre
A vibrant blend of sass, satire, and heart, Call Me Mother pairs box office queen Vice Ganda with multimedia darling Nadine Lustre in what’s poised to be a genre-bending cultural event. Penned by a powerhouse team led by Lana himself, the film promises fierce humor laced with timely truths.
2. Rekonek
Genre: Family Drama
Production: Reality MM Studios
Director: Jade Castro
Lead Stars: Carmina Villarroel, Gloria Diaz, Alexa Miro, Gerald Anderson, Zoren Legaspi
A moving intergenerational drama that explores the fragile threads of connection in a rapidly shifting world. With a cast of industry stalwarts and fresh faces, Rekonek promises a tender, timely portrait of family, healing, and rediscovery.
3. Manila’s Finest
Genre: Crime Thriller
Production: Cignal TV, Inc.
Director: Rae Red
Lead Star: Piolo Pascual
Award-winning director Rae Red teams up with leading man Piolo Pascual in a gritty, high-stakes thriller set against the shadowy underworld of the nation’s capital. Manila’s Finest is expected to push genre boundaries and showcase the darker corners of the Filipino psyche.
4. Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evilo Origins
Genre: Horror
Production: Regal Entertainment, Inc.
Directors: Shugo Praico, Joey de Guzman, Ian Loreños
Ensemble Cast: Ivana Alawi, Fyang Smith, Francine Diaz, Carla Abellana, Janice de Belen, Richard Gutierrez, Seth Fedelin and more
The legendary franchise rises again — this time with an all-star ensemble and a new chapter that promises to terrify a new generation. Evilo Origins brings together three directors and multiple storylines in a chilling return to the roots of Filipino horror.
BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT: MMFF’S CULTURAL MISSION
The MMFF has long stood as more than just a festival — it is a cultural institution, a Christmas tradition, and a lifeline for the Philippine film industry. This year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos continue to lend their support under the Bagong Pilipinas initiative, emphasizing the role of cinema in nation-building.
“The MMFF is more than a celebration of films,” said Artes. “It’s a celebration of who we are, of the stories only we can tell.”
WHAT COMES NEXT
While the first four entries were selected based on script submissions, the remaining four films in the prestigious “Magic 8” will be chosen from finished films, with a final selection to be made by 15 September. The full lineup will then light up screens across the country beginning 25 December, as Filipinos gather once again for one of the year’s most anticipated cinematic events.
Behind the scenes, the MMFF continues to champion not just film, but film workers, with festival proceeds supporting vital industry bodies such as Mowelfund, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Optical Media Board and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
With legendary institutions like Regal Entertainment, major industry players like ABS-CBN and Cignal TV, and daring voices like Rae Red, Jade Castro, and Jun Robles Lana, the MMFF 2025 lineup signals a future that is bold, inclusive, and unmistakably Filipino.