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Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has always been part of the Pinoy Christmas tradition.

Every year, many Filipinos always look forward to bonding with their families and friends during the Christmas season by watching the official entries of this annual festival.

However, due to the global crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the cinemas have been closed to avoid large social gatherings which is a part of the safety health protocols

But this did not stop MMFF from offering new Filipinos movies on Christmas day.

The show must go on, as they say because the 46th edition of MMFF goes online this year.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the MMFF Executive Committee tied up with Globe Telecom Inc., and homegrown streaming platform Upstream to make not just eight but 10 movies available for viewing from Christmas Day through January 7, 2021.

Unlike the past years when MMFF movies were only shown in Metro Manila theaters for the first two weeks, the festival's reach will become global this year because of its shift to digital format.

Now, anybody who has access to the internet can watch the movie they want at their preferred time.

Here's how you can watch an MMFF movie starting December 25:

Are Filipino audiences ready to shift to digital platforms?

For Suarez: The Healing Priest actor John Arcilla, shifting to online is an exciting move for the MMFF.

"Bukod sa 'yon na ang new normal, mayroon na kasing following ang online streaming.

"Exciting para sa akin kasi first time na MMFF online ala Netflix," he said in a recent interview.

However, he's a little concerned about reaching the not-so-techy audience.

He related, "Medyo 'yung age bracket na lang namin, natin, ang hindi masyadong into it.

"And exciting na sana 'yung mga millennials, i-guide nila yung mga nasa age bracket ng mga lolo nila, lola nila, para sumama rin sila."

He added, "I'm still praying na maging successful. I think, in a way, magiging successful. Pero bilang first ito, siguro nasa push natin.

"Ang nakakatakot kasi diyan yung mga hindi techie, e. Madali silang ma-disappoint, 'Saan ba ako pupunta? Saan ba ako papasok? Paano ako magbabayad?'

"Kapag maraming cheche bureche ayaw na nila, e, natatamad sila. Pero yung mga bata... sana ganun din ka-excited yung mga medyo hindi techie."

On the other hand, director Dolly Dulu sees this as a better opportunity for their movie The Boy Foretold by the Stars, which is a boy's love genre that is currently a hit among the youth.

He said, "We're kinda hoping that it will be the trend since most of the viewers BL series are online.

"I think that's an advantage to us because the first target market it covered na kasi alam na nila kung paano manood online. They know how the process is, so that's a big bonus for us.

"But also, I'm a bit scared because this will be the first time MMFF is happening online, so we don't know pa rin how it will fare because we don't know if those who are tweeting about it will actually buy the tickets.

"You know, to tweet about it and to promote it is free, but to actually buy the ticket for the movie, that's another question.

"We're still praying and hoping that the people will really buy the tickets and not just talk about it online."

When it comes to box office results, Tagpuan producer-actor Alfred Vargas said it may be impossible to reach billions, unlike the previous years.

"Siguro, malaki 'yung chance na hindi tayo aabot sa billions, di ba? Medyo limited na," he said.

However, he said that this could be a good start to introduce the online platform to the Pinoy audience.

"Sa tingin ko, may malaking potential kasi everybody can watch it na wherever you are in the world, di ba?

"Like, kung OFW ka, hindi mo napapanood ang Metro Manila Film Festival before, ngayon, puwedeng-puwede mo na mapanood at malaki ang market doon."

He added, "Alam mo, kapag naging successful ang ganitong platform sa film festival, makakabuti ito sa ating industriya.

"Kasi, kapag nagkaroon ng ganitong opportunity or platform, mas lalong dadami ang magpo-produce, lalong dadami ang trabaho ng creatives, ng actors, ng directors, ng talents, pati sa press magti-trickle down. Kaya sana talaga, maraming maka-access nitong Metro Manila Film Festival."

Check out the 10 official entries to the MMFF 2020 in this gallery:

How are producers protected from piracy?

One of the constant issues in film festivals, especially MMFF, was piracy.

Every year, movie producers were complaining about how their movies were easily copied and shown online.

Can this be prevented now that MMFF has gone online?

Dondon Monteverde, the managing business partner of Upstream PH, said

"We have a powerful feature where you can't screen record it. That's one thing we terminated for sure para hindi siya ma-screen record sa phone or sa tablet.

"Itong platform na ito, tinest talaga ng Disney, ng Universal, ng Paramount to make sure that we have the gold standard when it comes to safety features. So far, lahat naman ng criteria na chineck nila, pumasa itong platform na ito.

"Kaya nga, later on, we'll be able to stream content that would come from them. Kasi, crucial nga na we want the Filipinos to enjoy not just local content, but later on also watch Hollywood content, it's made possible through this platform."

He also noted, "Upstream, MMDA, and the 10 movie producers are now working together with government agencies to really safeguard the MMFF 2020 with piracy.

"Kapag mayroon talagang nahuli dyan na namimirata or something, talagang we will put the hands of the law against that person who pirates the film.

"Sa Facebook kasi at saka sa YouTube, partner na 'yan ng Globe in a lot of stuff, so it's very easy to take down."

No more first day, last day screening

Dondon, who is also a known movie producer, boasts that Upstream PH is a very producer-friendly online streaming platform.

He said, "Siguro, nakapagsubaybay na kayo ng MMFF through the years, every year na lang may controversy, di ba? 'Why was this film taken out of the cinema after one day or two days?'

"Parang kawawa [ang producers], it's sad that you have no chance to recover your investment knowing that yung moviehouse lang talaga ang source of profit to give you a better chance of recovering.

"I think we've covered that for the producers.

"One, we have unlimited screens and unlimited seats in Upstream PH.

"Meaning, we were able to have all 10 producers to enjoy the two-week run without them worrying na matatanggal yung content nila anytime habang tumatakbo yung festival.

"Two, again producer-friendly because we've expanded the market pa for them. Kasi, it used to be MMFF is only done for the Filipino audience here in the domestic market.

"This time around, we give them the power to show their content all around the world na.

"With that, as a producer, it gives you again more chances of recouping. As you know, dollar-based 'yan. Here in the Philippines, it's PhP250, but abroad it's only $10 just to buy a ticket where a whole family can watch the movie."

According to director Erik Matti, managing creative partner of Upstream, the 10 entries of MMFF will be available on their platform earlier than usual on December 25.

"As early as Noche Buena ng December 25, pwede nang manood ng mga entries ang mga pamilya. One ticket per film, isa para sa saya ng lahat!”

The official entries to MMFF 2020 are Coming Home, Isa Pang Bahaghari, Fan Girl, Magikland, Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihin ng Bandanang Itim, Pakboys Takusa, Suarez: The Healing Priest, Tagpuan, The Boy Foretold by the Stars, and The Missing.

Find out who among your favorite Kapuso actors are part of MMFF 2020 in this gallery: