On Sunday, 7 January, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced the good news that this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival has hit P1 billion in gross box-office receipts, doubling last year’s earnings of P500 million.

It’s also the first time since 2018 that the annual festival has breached the billion-peso mark. That year, the MMFF earned P1.061 billion.

Following the public’s enthusiastic reception of the festival, with long lines at ticket booths even on the last day of the MMFF on 7 January, the MMDA announced that the film fest would be extended by an additional week, with all 10 movies to continue running in cinemas until 14 January.

MMFF complimentary passes can also be used until the 14th.

“We at the MMFF would like to express our deepest gratitude to all who have supported us and watched the movie entries, particularly those who requested the MMFF movies to extend beyond its original run,” MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes said.

In addition, the 10 MMFF films will premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatres and for the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, California from 29 January to 2 February in what is billed as the Manila International Film Festival.

The 10 films included in the festival are Mallari, Penduko, (K)Ampon, Family of 2, Rewind, Becky and Badette, Broken Hearts Trip, When I Met You in Tokyo, Mallari, Firefly and GomBurZa.

According to film insiders, Star Cinema’s tearjerker Rewind, starring real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, is the runaway festival top-grosser, followed by Mallari, topbilled by Piolo Pascual, and GomBurZa, which won the most number of awards — seven, including Best Director for Pepe Diokno and Best Actor for Cedrick Juan as well as Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best Sound.

“Star for All Seasons” Vilma Santos-Recto was hailed as Best Actress for her turn in When I Met You in Tokyo, while Miles Ocampo (Family of Two) and JC Santos (Mallari) won the Best Supporting Actress and Actor trophies.