The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has finally unveiled the second batch of entries that will complete this year’s lineup of diverse and high-quality Filipino films.

Photo: Francine Diaz, ABS-CBN Star Cinema

This year’s MMFF is celebrating its 50th year with the theme “Sinesigla sa Singkwenta.” With MMFF receiving 70 film submissions this year, only 10 will be screened in cinemas nationwide.

Here is the second batch of films that will be completing this year’s MMFF lineup:

1. “My Future You” — Directed by Crisanto Aquino, the romantic-comedy film stars Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin. The film centers around two young lovers in two different timelines who are connected through a dating app.
2. “Uninvited” — Directed by Dan Villegas, the thriller film stars Vilma Santos, Nadine Lustre, and Aga Mulach. This film follows a vengeful mother named Eva Candelaria who is seeking justice for the death of her only daughter.
3. “Topakk” — Directed by Richard V. Somes, the film stars Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Sid Lucero, and Kokoy De Santos. It tells the story of a former platoon leader who becomes a security guard.
4. “Hold Me Close” — Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the drama film stars Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino. The film follows a wanderer and a girl who has a special ability to know whether someone she touches will bring happiness or harm into her life.
5. “Espantaho” — Directed by Chito S. Roño, the film will feature Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino as a mother-daughter duo who got involved with married men.

Meanwhile, here are the first batch of film entries that were announced in July:

1. “And the breadwinner is…” — Directed by Jun Lana, the drama-comedy stars Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, Maris Racal, Gina Pareño, Jhong Hilario, and Kokoy de Santos. The film focuses on a breadwinner who got caught in a case of mistaken identity.
2. “Green Bones” — Directed by Zig Dulay, the drama film stars Dennis Trillo, Ruru Madrid, Kylie Padilla, and Sofia Pablo. The film revolves around the lives of an inmate and a prison guard.
3. “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital” — Directed by Kerwin Go, the horror film stars Enrique Gil and Jane de Leon. The film is set in Xinglin General Hospital, which was named one of the “most haunted places” in Taiwan.
4. “Himala: Isang Musikal” — Directed by Pepe Diokno, the upcoming musical film is based on the 2018 theatrical play of the same name. It features Aicelle Santos, David Ezra, Victor Robinson, and Bituin Escalante.
5. “The Kingdom” — Directed by Michael Tuviera, the action-drama film stars Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual.

The MMFF is an annual film festival that is committed to screening only Filipino films. It begins on December 25 until the first week of January of the following year.

The annual Parade of Stars will take place on December 15, while the Gabi ng Parangal will commence on December 27.  The prestigious awards show will be held at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.