‘Green Bones’ wins big at MMFF 2024, now showing in over 180 theaters

GMA Pictures’ Green Bones, a powerful prison drama helmed by acclaimed director Zig Dulay, dominated the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), taking home the coveted Best Picture award. The film’s emotional resonance has captivated audiences, sparking an unprecedented demand that has seen its cinema count surge from just 60 theaters before the Gabi ng Parangal on December 27 to an impressive 180 theaters nationwide.

This victory marks a historic milestone for GMA Pictures, achieving back-to-back Best Picture wins after Firefly’s triumph in 2023. It echoes the studio’s legendary streak 25 years ago when Jose Rizal (1998) and Muro-Ami (1999) clinched consecutive MMFF Best Picture honors.

During the prestigious awards night at Solaire Resort, Green Bones secured multiple accolades, further cementing its status as this year’s festival standout:

Best Actor: Dennis Trillo
Best Supporting Actor: Ruru Madrid
Best Child Performer: Sienna Stevens
Best Screenplay: Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza
Best Cinematography: Neil Daza

Although Green Bones was the biggest winner at the 2024 MMFF, GMA Network Senior Vice President and GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Valdes shared the film’s coveted Best Picture award with the other nine movies in the festival. She recognized the dedication and passion everyone put in, stating, “To make a film, it takes blood, sweat, and tears, and resources. And talagang we really risked it all because we want to tell a story and I hope that people listen to all these wonderful, outstanding stories of these movies.”

The rousing success of Green Bones is a testament to GMA Pictures Executive Vice President Nessa Valdellon’s vision of showcasing the network’s homegrown talent on the big screen. While acting legend Dennis Trillo’s involvement is inevitable, Ruru Madrid’s casting was a risk. Despite years in television, Green Bones is the Sparkle star’s first major film role — a gamble that hugely paid off. Ruru’s skillful, heartfelt performance earned him Best Supporting Actor.

Critics and audiences alike have rallied behind Green Bones. The Manila Feed described it as an “MMFF 2024 Best Picture frontrunner” and “a film that moves the soul and reminds us of what truly matters,” with a perfect 5 out of 5 rating. LionhearTV and My Movie World echoed the same score, praising its story, direction, performances, and visuals. Influencer account Lakwatsera Lovers even gave it an 11/10, raving about its writing, cast, and director Zig Dulay.

The film was lauded by Manila Bulletin as a moving, timely story about “doing the right thing and the perseverance needed to be a good, righteous member of the human race,” while Rappler deemed it “raw yet controlled […] a movie that will make you think, feel, and maybe even cry a little (or a lot).” The Manila Times has called it a masterpiece and an emotional tour de force, being “one of the finest films to grace the Metro Manila Film Festival in recent years […] an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.”

PhilStar highlighted Dennis Trillo’s “high-wire act” as the convicted killer Dom Zamora and his ability to bring complex roles to life with “pathos, clarity, and gravitas,” and commended Ruru Madrid, who played the hard-line, traumatized prison guard Xavier Gonzaga, for having “held his own” against his co-star and industry veterans, delivering a performance that made his role unforgettable and one he can truly take pride in.

Child actor Sienna Stevens, who learned sign language for her key role with Dennis Trillo, garnered praise for her strong chemistry with him and her effective, dialogue-free performance, which won her the Best Child Performer award. Her fellow Sparkle artists Royce Cabrera and Mikoy Morales also received recognition for their convincing portrayals of incarcerated gay lovers, despite having limited screen time.

Audience members were captured in tears during screenings of Green Bones, unable to contain their emotions. Social media is flooded with glowing reactions. The popular Facebook page Mubi Rebyu, which ranked the film #1, described it as “may kabuluhan at di makakalimutan.” Screenwriter and National Artist Ricky Lee is receiving widespread praise for his enduring brilliance, with some even calling for the icon’s immortalization, and many agree that Zig Dulay deserves laurels for his consistent cinematic excellence.

With Green Bones, GMA Pictures once again proves that powerful, poignant stories — and daring casting choices — resonate deeply with audiences, solidifying its place as a force to reckon with in Philippine cinema.