The Filipino cinema industry celebrates its return with the MMFF 2021 awards night
The 47th Metro Manila Film Festival celebrates the Filipino film industry with the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal on December 27.
The said event gives recognition to the eight selected MMFF entries for this year.
Also, the Metro Manila Film Festival gives way to the return of the local cinema industry after almost two years of inactivity due to the pandemic.
Without further ado, check out the big winners of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2021!
BEST PICTURE: Big Night!
Big Hit! is a dark humor film by Jun Robles Lana. It features Christian Bables as Dharna, a gay beautician who is dead set on clearing his name from an Oplan Tokhang hit list.
Big Night! also won several awards including Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. With Jun Robles Lana winning the Best Director award.
2ND BEST PICTURE: Kun Maupay Man it Panahon (Whether the Weather is Fine)
Kun Maupay Man it Panahon is a Waray drama-disaster film starring Daniel Padilla, Rans Rifol, and Charo Santos-Concio.
The film was inspired by the personal experiences of the director Carlo Francisco Manatad, exploring Typhoon Yolanda’s aftermath in Tacloban last 2013.
Black Sheep Entertainment, Globe Studios, and Dreamscape Entertainment produced the film.
The film was first released at international film festivals such as the 2021 Toronto Film Festival, US Chicago Film Festival, and the 74th Locarno Film Festival, winning the Cinema e Gioventù Prize.
3RD BEST PICTURE: A Hard Day
An action-thriller film starring Dingdong Dantes and John Arcilla, A Hard Day is a Filipino adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film with the same name.
The film is directed by Lawrence Fajardo and produced by Viva Films.
Additionally, Christian Bables won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Big Night!, dedicating his role to the victims of extrajudicial killings.
“Ito po ay inaalay ko para sa mga taong nasa same situation ng kay Darna: people who are voiceless, who are oppressed.
Screenshot from The IdeaFirst Company’s YouTube Channel
I may find it hard to express my opinion in words, but let me fight for you and with you through my art,” Bables said.
The renowned John Arcilla, known best for his performance in Heneral Luna, won Best Actor for Supporting Role for the said film.
The veteran actress Charo Santos-Concio of Kun Maupay Man It Panahon won Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Moreover, Daniel Padilla won the Special Jury Prize.
Screenshot from Black Sheep’s YouTube Channel
Meanwhile, the Best Actress for Supporting Role goes to the rising star Rans Rifol for Kun Maupay Man it Panahon. Rifol was a former member of MNL48.
Other entries include Love at First Stream, The ExorSis, Nelia, Huwag Kang Lalabas, and Ang Huling Ulan sa Tag-araw.
The entries of the 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival are now showing in selected cinemas until January 7, 2022.
If you want to explore more Filipino films, we have recommendations for you here!
