Star Cinema wins big in the Metro Manila Film Festival

Mon Jan 10 2011 01:24 PM
by: Napoleon Quintos

Star Cinema raked big success both commercially and critically in the recently concluded 36th Metro Manila Film Festival. Two of Star Cinema’s entry in the annual holiday movie fest, Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na ‘To) and Dalaw, were among the three biggest earners of all the eight films shown exclusively in theaters across the country from December 25 of last year to January 7, 2011.  

The number one spot in the box office race was claimed by Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote, top-billed by Senator Bong Revilla and Vic Sotto, which raked in Php 159 million. According to MMFF administrators, all eight movie entries earned a combined total gross of Php 530 million, a figure which is Php 93 million higher compared to the revenue of last year’s festival. 

Ang Tanging Ina, the third and final installment in the comedy film franchise headlined by Ai Ai De Las Alas, earned P157 million and claimed the second spot. The movie was also a runway winner in the MFFF Gabi ng Parangal for bagging a total of nine awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Wenn Deramas, Best Actress for Ai Ai, and Best Supporting Actress for Eugene Domingo.

Placing third in the box office race was Dalaw, a horror flick starring Kris Aquino. Dalaw, a joint project between Star Cinema and Cinemedia, earned Php 96 million, and this fulfilled the prayers of Kris for Dalaw to at least place third in the box office bout. The Queen of All Media co-produced Dalaw which served as her ‘comeback’ movie.

Star Cinema also had another entry, RPG Metanoia, which is co-produced with Ambient Media. RPG Metanoia,the first 3D animated feature film in the Philippines, featured characters voiced by Zaijan Jaranilla, Eugene Domingo, Vhong Navarro, and Aga Muhlach. The movie took home five MMFF award namely Third Best Picture, Best Theme Song (Kaya Mo), Best Sound Recording, and Gender Sensitive Award.  

Other movie entries in the MMFF are Father Jejemon, Rosario, Shake, 

Rattle and Roll XII, and Super Inday and the Golden Bibe. All the films in the MMFF are still being screened in theaters nationwide.