On January 29th – February 2nd 2024, Hollywood will roll out the red carpet for the 1st Manila International Film Festival to be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre and will close out with a Gala Night held at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard.
The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) will showcase only 10 Filipino produced, directed, written and starred films that were featured at the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, which was held in Manila, Philippines this past December 2023. Romance, Comedy, Horror, Fantasy, History, and Drama will be the various genres of films being showcased.
Film industry leaders and Filipino-American stars from the Hollywood and from the Philippines are expected to attend and support this historic cinematic event to emphasize the importance of elevating the Philippine Film Industry here in the USA and beyond.
Omen Ortiz, the MIFF chairman said, “It took an entire village of people coming together, bringing lots of determination, good will and tons of support from within the Filipino community to help conceive this historic event.”
Filipinos are well known for their “Bayanihan culture” (the spirit of communal unity and cooperation) that helps each other make it to the top. This is just the first of many for the talented Filipino Cinematic community. What a way to start the year off!
Get your tickets here
Subtitles are provided for the convenience of non-Tagalog (Filipino) speakers.
Highlights of the festival from the participating 10 narrative films that are making their bows are presented below:
When I Met You in Tokyo
Stars: Vilma Santos – Christopher De Leon
Directors: Conrad Peru, Rommel Penesa and Christopher de Leon
“Azon, known for the generosity of her heart, meets Joey, a divorcee who still harbors the scars of his ex-wife’s infidelity. Tackling unconditional love sacrifices and aging from the perspective of two elderly workers.”
Screening:
Monday, January 29th – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, January 31st – 7:25 pm – (Intro/Q&A)
Friday, February 2nd – 12 noon
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story)”
Stars: Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards
Director: Nuel Crisostomo Naval
“The film revolves around a worried son who seeks to find a man as a partner for his single mother.”
Screening:
Wednesday, January 31st – 4:30 pm
Thursday, February 1st – 8:45 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Friday, February 2nd – 10:30 am
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Becky & Badette
Stars: Pokwang and Eugene Domingo
Director: Jun Robles Lana
“Two best friends who accidentally go viral by making up stories about one of their group mates.”
Screening:
Monday, January 29th, 4:30 pm
Wednesday, January 31st – 8:30 pm (Intro/ Q&A)
Friday, February 2nd – 1pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Penduko
Stars: Matteo Guidicelli and Kylie Verzosa
Director: Jason Paul Laxamana
A 20 year-old wimp that was raised in the U.S. will go on a journey in the Philippines after his Father died to search for his mother only to discover a curse and evil forces destroying the town.”
Screening:
Monday, January 29th – 5:45 pm (Intro/ Q&A)
Tuesday, January 30th – 4:30 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Friday, February 2nd – 12 noon
Where: Directors Guild of America
Rewind
Stars Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes
Director: Mae Cruz Alviar, DGPI
“An upcoming Filipino family drama film with a touch of magical realism.”
Screening:
Monday, January 29th 8:35 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Wednesday, January 31st 3:00 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Friday, February 2nd – 3:00 pm
Where: Directors Guild of America
GomBurZa
Stars: Enchong Dee, Cedrick Juan, and Dante Rivero
Director: Pepe Diokno
Mariano Gomes, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora are three brave Filipino Catholic priests whose narrative is told in this stirring and inspirational historical drama.
Screening:
Tuesday, January 30th – 3:00 pm
Thursday, February 1st – 7:25 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Friday, February 2nd – 4:00 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
FIREFLY
Stars: Alessandra De Rossi and Euwenn Mikaell
Director: Zig Madamba Dulay
Follows a little child who, after hearing tales from his mother at bedtime, sets off to find the fabled island of fireflies. The kid gets to the island to wish his mother back to life, using “clues” from an old notebook.
Screening:
Tuesday, January 30th – 5:55 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Thursday, February 1st – 3:00 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Friday, February 2nd – 12 noon
Where: Directors Guild of America
Broken Heart’s Trip
Stars: Christian Bables, Andoy Ranay, Teejay Marquez, Marvin Yap, Iyah Mina, and Petite
Director: Lemuel C. Lorca
Five brokenhearted LGBTQ individuals will be given a chance to heal in the most beautiful places, and there’s a million-peso prize at the end.
Screening:
Tuesday, January 30th– 7:25 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Wednesday, January 31st – 6:00 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Friday, February 2nd – 12 noon
Where : Directors Guild of America
(K)Ampon
Stars: Beauty Gonzales and Derek Ramsay
Director: King Palisoc
Darkness will find you. Secrets will haunt you. Parating na sila. “They are coming”.
Screening
Tuesday, January 30th – 8:55 pm (Intro/Q&A)
Thursday, February 1st – 4:30 pm
Friday, February 2nd – 3:00 pm
Where : TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Mallari
Stars: Piolo Pascual and Janella Salvador
Director: Derick Cabrido
The horrific story of Fr. Severino Mallari, a 19th century priest during the Spanish occupation and his descent into madness. It recounts Mallari’s life where he reportedly murdered 57 people to aid his ailing mother.
Screening:
Monday, January 29th – 7:25 pm (Intro/ Q&A)
Thursday, February 1st – 5:45 pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatre
Friday, February 2nd – 3:00 pm
Where: The Director’s Guild of America
