'Firefly,' 'Jose Rizal,' 48 other films return to cinemas for MMFF's 'Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta'

September 13 2024

By AARON BRENNT EUSEBIO

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Metro Manila Film Festival, 50 timeless and classic films will return to select cinemas nationwide starting September 25 as part of 'Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta.'

Among the entries to be shown once again are GMA Pictures' award-winning films Firefly and Jose Rizal, the digitally restored and remastered version.

Jose Rizal was first shown at the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival where it won 17 out of the 18 awards. In the movie, Cesar Montano portrayed the titular hero with Chin-Chin Gutierrez as Josephine Bracken and Mickey Ferriols as Leonor Rivera. Also part of the cast are Ronnie Lazaro as Francisco Mercado, Gloria Diaz as Teodora Alonso, Pen Medina as Paciano Mercado, and Gina Alajar as Saturnina Rizal.

Meanwhile, Firefly won the Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Child Performance at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. Firefly tells the story of Tonton (Euwenn Mikaell) and his journey as he finds the mythical island of fireflies based on his mother Elay's (Alessandra De Rossi), bedtime stories.
 
Along the way, Tonton meets three strangers -- Billy (Miguel Tanfelix), Erika (Ysabel Ortega), and Mang Louie (Epy Quizon) -- who will either help him or hinder his quest. Also part of the ensemble cast are Cherry Pie Picache, Yayo Aguila, and Kokoy De Santos, with the special participation of Max Collins and Dingdong Dantes.

The complete list of movies are:

Agila ng Maynila
Ang Alamat ng Lawin
Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2
Ang Larawan
Ang Panday (1980)
Ang Panday (2009)
Ang Tanging Ina Mo
Atsay
Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing
Big Night
Blue Moon
Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo
Brutal
Captain Barbell (1986)
Crying Ladies
Darna (1991)
Die Beautiful
Feng Shui 2
Firefly
Gandarrapiddo! The Revenger Squad
Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon
Himala
Imortal
Insiang
Jose Rizal
Karma
Karnal
Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo
Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising
Kung Mawawala Ka Pa
Langis at Tubig
Magic Temple
Manila Kingpin the Untold Story of Asiong Salonga
Mano Po
Markova
May Minamahal
Mga Bilanggong Birhen
Minsa'y Isang Gamu-Gamo
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Moral
Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!: The Movie
One More Try
Rainbow's Sunset
Shake, Rattle, and Roll 1
Shake, Rattle, and Roll II
Sunday Beauty Queen
Tanging Yaman
The Moises Padilla Story
Walang Forever
Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure

'Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta' will be on September 25 until October 15.