The Manila Film Festival (TMFF) returns but with a twist

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Local government of Manila and  it's concept and implementation partner ARTCORE Productions, Inc. together with the committee leads officially signed the Memorandum of Agreement of the return of the bagong luma "The Manila Film Festival" (TMFF) on February 10 at the Bulwagang Villegas of the Manila City Hall.

At a media launch, attended by members of the press and online media including vloggers and bloggers like Wazzup Pilipinas and the Philippine Vloggers Elite, Mayor Honey Lacuna gave a fun fact as part of her opening speech informing everyone that the "Metro Manila Film Festival" (MMFF) originally started in Manila led by its 1966 mayor Antonio Villegas who initiated the "Manila Tagalog Film Festival" which evolved into a few more forms or reincarnations, and now fast forwarding to today is the "old but new" TMFF.

Ang pagbabalik ng bagong luma - The Manila Film Festival (TMFF) returns but with a twist.

The festival invites the new generation of filmmakers from college & university and senior high school students, alumni or newly graduates but encouraging them to also partner with mainstream movie producers, benefactors, etc.... in producing their movies. The final 8 will also be mentored by directors that have agreed to offer their services as part of the TMFF.

Join now by submitting screenplays to the search for the final 8 to receive at least 300k grants each but also get the opportunity for bigger funding by partnering with other stakeholders. Deadline of submission of screenplays is on March 10 at 11pm via email address themanilafilmfestival@gmail.com

The announcement of selected eight entries will be on March 20. This is also when mentors will be assigned and the awarding of the first tranch of production grants, and the announcement of criteria for judging of the selected eight entries.

The submission of the completed film and teaser  will be on June 2.

Promotion period is from June 3 to 24.

Film screening is from June 17 to 24.

The awarding date is still TBA (To be announced)

The TMFF, that will run for at least a week, will be a key component of the annual Araw ng Maynila celebrations in June. The committee is still deliberating on the schedule but are hoping to start the regular screenings  on a Friday or Saturday (June 16 or 17), the premiere night on a Wednesday (June 14),  and the judges screenings on Thursday to Saturday (June 15 to 17).

Aside from also getting the support of FDCP, MTRCB, MMFF, the TMFF will also mobilize support among the theater owners,  community leaders, the DepEd and CHED as well as the DILG

Watch the videos of the media launch, presenting the talks and interviews with TMFF chairperson Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, co-chair person Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto and Miss Edith Fider of ARTCORE Productions Inc, and the Executive Director Dr. Charles Deita, plus more of the personalities that form part of the TMFF Executive Committee, as well as the video coverage featuring their answers to the inquiries of the media at the official Facebook and TikTok pages of Wazzup Pilipinas.