After not being realized back in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will push its first-ever summer edition this April 2023. Check out the key dates below.

For its maiden edition, the Summer Metro Manila Film Festival has received a whopping response from filmmakers and film producers with a total of 33 film submissions.

Among the submitted films, 23 of these are new ones, while 10 are resubmissions from the annual Christmas edition last 2022.

MMDA Acting Chairman and MMFF Over-all Chair Atty. Don Artes described the first Summer MMFF as “historic” as it received the highest number of film submissions since the MMFF started.

“With the record-breaking number of films that have been submitted to us, we can say that our local movie industry is back in their game and is starting to create more quality films again for us to enjoy in the first-ever Summer MMFF,” Artes said.

“The MMDA and the film industry are both excited and looking forward to the success of the summer film fest which is another avenue to showcase local talent in making world-class Filipino films,” he added.

“The MMFF’s victory is the victory of the whole Philippine film industry.”

The eight official entries to be included in the film festival will be announced on February 24. They will be selected based on the following criteria: artistic excellence (40%), commercial appeal (40%), Filipino cultural sensibility (10%), and global appeal (10%).

The first Summer MMFF will run in all cinemas nationwide from April 8 to 18, with the Parade of Stars scheduled to be held in Quezon City on April 1 and the Awards Night will take place on April 11. #2023SummerMMFF [Press release]