Manila International Film Festival to screen 10 MMFF entries, 'Hello, Love, Again,' more films

After its successful first edition, the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) will showcase the 10 entries, including the recent winners, of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

It will also showcase a landmark Filipino movie marking its 75th anniversary, the world premiere of a drama-musical, an advance screening of a Hollywood film directed by a Filipino American, a breakthrough Fil-Am movie commemorating its 25th anniversary, and more.

MIFF, which celebrates and supports Philippine cinema, will be held from January 30 to February 2, 2025, with screenings at the TCL Chinese Theatre in the heart of Hollywood and a glamorous, star-studded gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

Here are the 10 MMFF entries, including the winning movies, that are coming to Los Angeles:

And the Breadwinner Is… (ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., The Idea First Company) (Comedy). Director: Jun Robles Lana. Cast: Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo.

The film focuses on Bambi Salvador, a breadwinner working as an OFW in Taiwan for her family back home. She returns home to Arayat, Pampanga expecting her dream house to be finished. Instead, she returns to see their dilapidated house.

They restart Papsy's Panaderyuh, Home of the Original Kalil, a bakery shop and funeral parlor. The film pays tribute to the unsung heroes – OFWs – who carry the weight of their loved ones' dreams on their shoulders.

Espantaho (Quantum Films, Cineko Productions, Purple Bunny Productions) (Horror) Director: Chito S. Roño. Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Lorna Tolentino and Chanda Romero.

Monet and her mother Rosa are mourning the death of the family patriarch, Pabling. During the nine days of pasiyam, dark secrets and a malevolent plot start to unravel.

Green Bones (GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs, Brightburn Entertainment) (Drama) Director: Zig Dulay. Cast: Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid and Kylie Padilla.

The movie follows notorious criminal Domingo Zamora and newly assigned correctional officer Javier Gonzaga, who strives to prevent Zamora's release from prison.

Hold Me Close (Viva Communications, Inc.) (Romance, Fantasy) Director: Jason Paul Laxamana. Cast: Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino.

Woody has spent seven years traveling across the world to find a place to settle. He checks out Japan where he meets Lynlyn, who has the special ability to tell if a certain person will cause happiness or harm to her by merely touching them.

Isang Himala (Kapitol Films, UXS) (Musical) Director: Pepe Diokno. Cast: Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante.

Elsa, a young woman from the impoverished village of Cupang, experiences a vision of the Virgin Mary during an eclipse. Convinced she has been chosen to perform miracles, Elsa begins healing the sick, drawing thousands of desperate pilgrims to the small town.

My Future You (Regal Entertainment, Inc.) (Romance, Comedy) Director: Crisanto B. Aquino. Cast: Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin.

Karen (Francine Diaz) and Lex (Seth Fedelin) meet on an online dating app. They live in two different timelines set 15 years apart and whose connection was made possible through a comet. After learning about their strange situation, they work on changing the past to alter their fate.

Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Hospital Killer (Reality MM Studios Inc.) (Horror). Director: Kerwin Go. Cast: Enrique Gil, Jane De Leon and Alexa Miro.

Following the format of the Korean original, a group of Filipino amateur ghosthunters explores the notorious Xinglin General Hospital in Taiwan, which is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in Southeast Asia.

The Kingdom (APT Entertainment, MQuest Ventures, MZet Television Productions) (Action, Adventure, Thriller) Director: Michael Tuviera. Cast: Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual and Cristine Reyes.

Set in the Kingdom of Kalayaan in the contemporary era in an alternate version of the Philippines where the islands were never colonized. It features the hierarchy of the Kaharian ng Kalayaan and Malayas.

Topakk (Nathan Studios, Inc., Strawdogs Studio Productions, Fusee) (Action) Director: Richard Somes. Cast: Julia Montes, Arjo Atayde and Sid Lucero.

An ex-special forces operative (Arjo Atayde) who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, attempts to save a woman's life (Julia Montes) whose life is being pursued by a corrupt police death squad working for a drug cartel.

Uninvited (Mentorque Productions, Project 8 Projects) (Crime, Revenge, Thriller) Director: Dan Villegas. Cast: Aga Muhlach and Vilma Santos.

Viewers are transported to an opulent mansion where a billionaire's lavish birthday celebration spirals into a night of socialite intrigues, buried secrets and shocking revelations.

Meanwhile, the special screenings include:

A Filipino in America Director: James Love. Cast: Doroteo B. Ines, Vincent Calzado and Dorothy Dahl.

"A Filipino in America" is one of the earliest films about Filipinos in the United States. Filmed in 1938, "A Filipino in America" was the thesis project of Dr. Doroteo B. Ines who received his master's degree in cinematography from the University of Southern California.

The film depicts the experiences of Filipino Americans during the 1930s – a time when mostly young Filipino males labored in the agricultural fields of the West Coast, frequented taxi dance halls and faced racial hostility and segregation. An avid member of the Filipino-American Christian Fellowship, Dr. Ines argued in the film that religion and fellowship could save Filipinos from a life of debauchery and destitution.

Faith Healers Director: Regina Aquino. Cast: Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez.

In the spirit of KAPWA (our shared humanity), Filipino doctors commit their lives to serve both Washington, DC and the Philippines. "Faith Healers" tackles immigration in the '60s to first-generation growing pains and uplifts the unwritten history of Filipino American challenges and achievements.

Genghis Khan Director: Manuel Conde. Cast: Manuel Conde, Elvira Reyes, Carlos V. Francisco.

Described as the most ambitious film ever made in postwar Philippines, "Genghis Khan" was the first Filipino movie to screen in an international film festival. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1952 and went on to other festivals around the world. MIFF celebrates the film, released in the Philippines in 1950, as it marks its 75th anniversary in 2025.

The landmark film, directed by Manuel Conde, National Artist for Film, with production design by Carlos Botong Francisco, National Artist for Painting, was the first to depict Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. United Artists bought and released the film in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Hello, Love, Again (ABS-CBN Studios, GMA Pictures) (Romance, Comedy). Director: Cathy Garcia-Sampana. Cast: Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards.

Due to insistent public demand, MIFF will screen "Hello, Love, Again," the first Filipino film to gross over P1 billion at the box office and the first Filipino movie to break into the US box office top 10.

After fighting for their love to conquer time, distance and a global shutdown that keeps them apart, Joy and Ethan meet again in Canada but realize that they have also changed a lot, individually.

Love Hurts (Universal Pictures, 87North Productions) (Action, Comedy) Director: Jonathan Eusebio. Cast: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose and Daniel Wu.

MIFF is proud to present a special advance screening of "Love Hurts," the Hollywood feature directing debut of Fil-Am Jonathan Eusebio, starring Oscar and Golden Globe winners Quan and DeBose.

The film tells the story of Marvin Gable (Quan), a successful realtor whose past as a violent hitman haunts him when his former partner reveals that his brother is hunting him.

Nurse Unseen (Documentary) Director: Michele Josue. Cast: Aveline Abiog, Meriden Angeles and Steve Angeles.

"Nurse Unseen," a feature documentary, explores the little-known history and humanity of the unsung Filipino nurses risking their lives on the front lines of a pandemic, thousands of miles from home.

Song of the Fireflies (Culturtain Musicat Productions) (Drama, Musical) Director: King Palisoc. Cast: Morisette Amon and Rachel Alejandro. With music by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. Music direction: Krina Kayabyab. Songs: Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Raymond Marasigan, Jazz Nicolas.

MIFF proudly presents the world premiere of "Song of the Fireflies," a new film from the team behind "Ang Larawan," the acclaimed film adaptation of the stage musical based on "Portrait of the Artist as Filipino" by Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature.

"Song of the Fireflies" tells the origin story of how a children's choir in a small town in Bohol, through their unique, almost magical singing talent and the sheer determination of their teacher/founder from the 1980s to this day, continues to wow the world and bring pride and honor to the Philippines.

The Debut (5 Card Productions) (Drama) Director: Gene Cajayon. Cast: Dante Basco, Tirso Cruz III and Eddie Garcia.

MIFF celebrates the 25th anniversary of "The Debut," released in 2000, hailed for its breakthroughs as the first Filipino American film to be shown nationwide in theaters in the U.S. and one of the first feature films made by and for the Fil-Am community.

"The Debut" dramatizes a young man's struggles with his desire to study art when his family thinks he's headed for premedical studies. Conflicts between Filipino traditions and expectations versus personal dreams in the contemporary world erupt at his sister's debut.

Tickets to the gala and screenings are now available. Don't miss out – buy your tickets early to 2025's most awaited MIFF events. The complete screening schedule, gala and ticket information are available on the MIFF's website: https://manilainternationalfilmfest.com/.

The TCL Chinese Theatre is located on the third level of Ovation Hollywood (formerly Hollywood & Highland), 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028. The Beverly Hilton is located at 9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News