Guide to 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival: Which films are you planning to watch?

The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival is just around the corner!

From the traditional eight, this year’s festival will feature 10 movies from various film categories and will run starting Christmas day.

If you haven’t decided yet on which movies to see, here’s a quick guide to help you choose:

G-rated movies to watch with the whole family

For those who are taking the kids with them to the cinemas, “Family of Two (A Mother And Son’s Story)” and “Penduko” are the perfect choices, as both are under the general audience rating according to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

“Family of Two (A Mother And Son’s Story),” which stars Alden Richards and Sharon Cuneta, is a heartwarming story about a selfless, single mother who only wants the best for her son.

Meanwhile, in “Penduko,” Matteo Guidicelli will play the role of a philanthropic faith healer’s son who will run away to the city and will be recruited by an underground company where those with supernatural gifts are trained.

PG-rated movies requiring adult supervision

Still available for audiences below 13 years old, these PG-rated films require supervision from an accompanying parent or a supervising adult.

Six films fall under this category, namely: “When I Met You in Tokyo,” "Becky and Badette,” "Broken Hearts Trip,” "Firefly,” "GomBurZa,” and "Rewind.”

In “When I Met You in Tokyo,” Vilma Santos-Recto and Christopher de Leon portray the roles of elderly overseas Filipino workers who eventually give love another shot.

"Becky and Badette” and "Broken Hearts Trip” are great selections if you’re up for a comedy film, while “GomBurZa” is the film to go to if you want to learn more about the lives of Mariano Gomes, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, three brave Filipino Catholic priests.

In “Rewind,” Kapuso Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera play a couple whose marriage is on the rocks. The husband does not treat his wife kindly, and she seems to be suffering in silence.

For a heartwarming movie viewing experience, let Alessandra de Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell take you on a coming-of-age road trip drama in “Firefly.” The film is about a young boy who searches for the mythical island described in his mother’s bedtime stories.

R-13 movies

Finally, “(K)Ampon” and “Mallari” were rated R-13 by MTRCB, meaning these films for viewers 13 years old and older, may include scenes not suitable for younger audiences.

Starring Derek Ramsay and Beauty Gonzalez, “(K)Ampon” is a horror movie about a childless couple who meet a little girl claiming to be the husband’s child.

Meanwhile, “Mallari” is based on the story of a Filipino priest who was executed for killing 57 people. It stars Piolo Pascual, Elisse Joson, and JC Santos.

The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival will run from December 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

See you at the cinemas!

—CACM, GMA Integrated News