MMFF 2017 passes 2016 haul

MMFF 2017 passes 2016 haul

This year's Metro Manila Film Festival, which featured entries from Vice Ganda and Coco Martin, have crossed a new threshold.

It has now passed the total gross of last year's edition since opening Monday, according to executive committee chairman Tim Orbos.

No official figures were given, again to avoid the "bandwagon effect" that they fear might affect sales for less popular entries, but the 2016 total amounted to only P373.3 million in 10 days.

"Kami po ay natutuwa sa pangyayaring ito at ito lang po ay nagsasabi na hindi po dahil sa klase ng pelikula -- whether tinatawag po nating art or commercial -- ang nagpatupad ng ganitong tagumpay," Orbos told DZMM in an interview on Thursday.

He added: "Ang nagpatupad po ng ganitong tagumpay ay ang aming pakikinig kung ano po talaga ang gusto ng ating manunuod na Pilipino. "Ito po ang gusto nila, itong pong mixture ng romance, comedy, art, action -- iyan po ang hinihingi ng ating moviegoers at ito po ay aming pinakinggan at ito po ang nagresulta."

The eight entries this MMFF 2017 are: "Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad," "Ang Panday," "Ang Lawaran," "Siargao," "Haunted Forest," "All of You," "Deadma Walking," and "Meant to Beh."

The 2016 festival earned significantly lower in the box office compared to previous years because of the exclusion of entries from Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, and Vic Sotto.

It also ran four days shorter than the other editions.