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A three-way partnership has brought together the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), industry giant Globe Telecom Inc., and streaming platform Upstream to assure Filipinos that their annual Christmas tradition of seeing tickets to the Festival of Metro Manila Cinema (MMFF) will continue this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, Globe Chairman Ernest Cu and Upstream Big Boss Dondon Monteverde digitally signed a memorandum of understanding Friday morning via Zoom. All three voiced a single goal for this company for the first time, which is to bring joy to Filipinos in December, especially given this challenging year.
As Cu said, “Globe has always strived to bring technology to make life easier for
Filipinos and we think that if we can close the gap that this pandemic created, when people can’t go to the movies to enjoy MMFF like they have done every year, then we are more than happy to offer what we have to change that. “
By November, Globe’s GMovies platform will serve as the sole box office for the 46th MMFF where, in this case, users will purchase a streaming code per movie. They will then use this code to watch the movie of their choice in the Upstream app, which will soon be available to download for both Android and iOS devices.
Lim cited that given the high cost of movie tickets, the reason for declining box office sales, and the worsening situation for local film producers, more Filipinos should be able to afford to see all eight MMFF tickets this year. Since a single purchase of P250 will allow a whole family to watch a movie together.
Previously, the MMFF Selection Committee had already chosen four scripts. Announced in July, these are: Regal Entertainment’s “Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan,” a horror movie starring Joshua Garcia; Brightlight Production’s “Magikland”, a fantastic adventure starring Jun Urbano and Migs Cuaderno; ABS-CBN Film Productions and Viva Communications’ “Praybeyt Benjamin 3,” a comedy starring Vice Ganda; and Tincan Productions’ “The Exorcism of My Siszums,” starring sisters Toni and Alex Gonzaga.
According to the MMDA, the last four films to be selected as full-movie submissions under official MMFF rules will take place in mid-to-late November, noting that production schedules have been delayed due to quarantines and more stringent restrictions.
Since theaters will not be allowed to open and show MMFF tickets in December as a security measure, the MMDA assures the public anyway that the rest of the MMFF traditions, specifically the Parade of Stars and Gabi ng Parangal, will continue as before, although digitally.
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