33rd METRO
MANILA FILMFEST LAUNCHED
The 2007 Metropolitan
Manila Film Festival (Philippines),
the 33rd version of the annual film
event, was launched officially by
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Chairman Bayani Fernando last Friday,
March 9, 2007, at the Wack Wack Golf
& Country Club in Mandaluyong
City.
During a joint launching-appreciation
affair which was attended by film
producers, Metro Manila officials
and representatives of national agencies
involved in culture and cinema development,
Chairman Fernando declared. The 2007 MMFF-P officially open and
announced a May 18, 2007 deadline
for the submission of screenplays
which will be the basis for the selection
of the 10 official entries to this
December’s filmfest.
During the joint affair,
cash incentives and prizes were given
to the producers of the nine films
which joined last year’s filmfest
as well as the winners of the 2006
MMFF-P awards. Six beneficiaries also
received the first tranche of their
shares from the amusement taxes donated
by the local government units. These included
the Mowelfund, the Social Fund of
Malacañang, the Film Academy
of the Philippines, the Film Development
Council of the Philippines, the Movie
Industry Anti-Piracy Organzation and
the Optical Media Board.
The entertainers who
attended the event included the Tiongco
Brothers, Eric Santos and Christian
Bautista.
The executive committee
of the 2007 MMFF-P promptly scheduled
a meeting with local film producers
on Wednesday, March 14. It is expected
to discuss the rules and regulations
that will govern the next film festival.
The execom has initially
approved plans to revert to the two-batch
showing of entries—seven films
to open on December 25 and the three
others to open on New Year’s
Day, January 1, 2008.
The execom has already
released a schedule of deadlines for
the information of interested producers.
Following are the important deadlines
that producers must keep track of:
May 18 (Fri), 5 p.m.—Deadline
for the sumission of screenplays for
both
batches.
May 21 to June 14—Reading
and selection of all submitted screenplays.
June 15 (Fri)—Announcement
of 10 official entries to the 2007
MMFF-P.
November 20 (Tue)—Deadline
of submission of trailers of official
entries.
December 3 (Mon)—Deadline
of submission of finished film entries
for
the first batch (Dec. 25 showing).
December 10 (Mon)—Deadline
of submission of finished film entries
for
the second batch (Jan.1 showing).
Deadline of submission
of graded (timed) prints
of entries for first batch.
December 17 (Mon)—Deadline
of submission of graded (timed) prints
of entries for second batch.
Submission of joint
certfications with laboratories concerned
that prints needed to service the
theaters assigned to them shall be
made available on time.
Submission of changes in the filmography
charts, such as names of the leading
performers and film genres.
December 17-21—Screening
of the official entries by the Board
of Jurors.
December 24—Parade
of Stars in Metro Manila.
December 25, 2007 to
January 7, 2008—Showing of official
entries with
first batch opening on Dec. 25 and
second batch opening on January 1.
January 4, 2008—2007
MMFF-P awards night.
