MMFF 2011 official entries announced

The 8 official entries for the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) happening this December were announced today, June 17, 2011, by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

And just like in MMFF 2010, the "Kings" and "Queens" will still be part of MMFF 2011. I'm talking about Vic Sotto, Bong Revilla, Ai-Ai delas Alas and Kris Aquino.

And the excitement doesn't end up there: husband and wife Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, whose movies "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" and "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo" were the Festival Topgrosser during MMFF 2006 and MMFF 2007 respectively, are very much back in the festival with "My Househusband".

Expect the toughest box-office battle this MMFF 2011!

Here are the eight(8) MMFF 2011 Official Entries:

"Enteng ng Ina Mo" under Star Cinema / M-Zet Films / APT Entertainment
Cast: Vic Sotto and Ai-Ai delas Alas
Director: Tony Y. Reyes

"Hototay" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: John Lapus, Ruffa Gutierrez, Andi Eigenmann, Lovi Poe, and Melai Cantiveros
Director: Joel Lamangan

"Mr. Wong" under RP Productions
Cast: Robin Padilla and Angelica Panganiban
Directors: Trina Dayrit and Rechie del Carmen

"My Househusband" under OctoArts Films
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo
Directors: Jose Javier Reyes

"Panday 2" under GMA Films / Imus Productions
Cast: Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr, Phillip Salvador, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado
Director: Mac Alejandre

"Panday 2" lead stars Bong Revilla as Flavio and Marian Rivera as Arlana with Director Mac Alejandre

"Segunda Mano" under MJM Productions
Cast: Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes and Angelica Panganiban

"Shake Rattle & Roll 13" under Regal Entertainment.
Cast: Eugene Domingo, Kathryn Bernardo, Albie Casiño, Maricar Reyes, Paulo Avelino
Directors: Chris Martinez ("Lunod" episode), Richard Somes ("Tamawo" episode), Jerrold Tarog ("Parola" episode)

"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" under Regal Entertainment
Cast: Dennis Trillo, Heart Evangelista, Carla Abellana and Ritz Azul

***

The three (3) scripts which were submitted but unfortunately didn't make it as an official entry are the following:

"Kimmy Dora N D Temple of Kiyeme" under Spring Films
Cast: Eugene Domingo

"Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story"
Cast: George Estregan Jr aka ER Ejercito, Carla Abellana, Bangs Garcia, Sam Pinto, Paloma, Baron Geisler, Robert Arevalo, Perla Bautista, Joko Diaz and Phillip Salvador
Director: Tikoy Aguiluz

"Love Will Lead You Back" under CineMedia
Cast: Judy Ann Santos, Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Gina Pareño

The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF 2011) will run from December 25, 2011 to January 7, 2012.

John Lloyd Cruz dethroned as Box Office King

John Lloyd Cruz's 3-year streak as Box Office King has ended.

John Lloyd held the title beginning in 2007 for the movie "One More Chance", then the next year for "A Very Special Love" and again in 2009 for "You Changed My Life".

And for 2010, he almost retained the title with two box-office hits under Star Cinema: "Miss You Like Crazy" with Bea Alonzo and "My Amnesia Girl" with Toni Gonzaga.

But neither of the two films surpassed the earnings of the MMFF 2010 entries "Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote", which starred Sen. Bong Revilla Jr and Vic Sotto, under GMA-Regal Films and "Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To", starred Ai-Ai delas Alas, produced by Star Cinema.

Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation has officially announced that the Box Office King title for 2010 will be awarded to Sen. Bong and Vic, while the Box Office Queen is Ai-Ai delas Alas.

It goes to show that they already changed the ruling now. Instead of the December 31 cut-off, they used January 7 as the cut-off in determining who will be crowned with the titles.

(I smell politics here.)

December 31 Cut-Off:
1. My Amnesia Girl P144.8M
2. Miss You Like Crazy P143M
3. Si Agimat At Si Enteng Kabisote P123M (estimated amount only)
4. Here Comes the Bride P116M
5. Petrang Kabayo P115.5M
6. Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To P109M (estimated amount only)

January 7 Cut-Off:
1. Si Agimat At Si Enteng Kabisote P159M
2. Ang Tanging Ina Mo Last Na 'To P157M
3. My Amnesia Girl P144.8M
4. Miss You Like Crazy P143M
5. Here Comes the Bride P116M
6. Petrang Kabayo P115.4M P115.5M

This news saddens the fans of both John Lloyd and Toni 'coz the movie "My Amnesia Girl" was shown for a month only, from November 24 to December 24, and had to give way to the MMFF 2010 entries which opened on December 25.

"My Amnesia Girl" could have earned more than its final gross if it was extended for 1-2 weeks, just like John Lloyd's previous films which made him a Box Office King.

So maybe next time, if MMFF is coming in a month, don't release a new movie.

With the new ruling, it's most likely that the Box Office King and Queen titles for 2011 and the coming years will go to the stars whose movies were shown for the MMFF.

Shall we expect Ai-Ai, Bong and Vic getting the titles year after year?