P1 M EACH FOR 2006 METRO MANILA FILMFEST ENTRIES

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will grant P1 million for each of the nine entries to this year’s filmfest during the awards ceremonies at the Aliw Theater on Roxas boulevard on Friday, December 29.

The donation will come from the Chief Executive’s social fund and is intended to provide added support to the local film industry producers.

The P1 million grant will benefit four films produced by Mrs. Lily Monteverde, two films by Orly Ilacad, and one film each from producers Cesar Montano, Violetta Sevilla and Mark Lapid, and ABS-CBN Films (Star Cinema).

The nine films started exhibition on Christmas Day and the box office grosses for the first three days pointed to a runaway victory for OctoArts Films and M-Zet Films Enteng Kabisote 3.

The other films which made it big at the box office are: Star Cinema’s Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, Regal Entertainment Inc.’s Shake Rattle & Roll 8 and Super Noypi. Another Regal entry, Mano Po 4, experienced some print availability problems during the first day of showing and according to Ms. Monteverde apparently lost momentum.

According to initial reports, this year’s Christmas Day gross of P60 million topped last year’s gross by P5 million. This year’s filmfest—which is longer by two additional days—is expected to break last year’s total gross of P351 million.

The other entries include: Canary Film’s Matakot Ka sa Karma, Violett Films and MTL Films’ Tatlong Baraha and CM Films’ Ligalig.