MMFF summer edition postponed until cinemas reopen

The 2021 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is postponed.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which spearheads the event.

In a statement posted on their website, the MMDD said the summer edition of the MMFF is postponed until cinemas re-open.

“The 2021 Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee (MMFF EXECOM) constituted by new MMDA Chairman BenHur Abalos met yesterday and have decided on foregoing with the Summer MMFF until partner-cinemas are once again open to the public,” the statement read.

Two weeks after cinemas in Metro Manila were allowed to operate at 25% capacity,  the Department of Trade and Industry once again ordered them shut down in March as the capital experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases.

They've remained closed since then. 

In lieu of the summer edition, the MMFF EXECOM plans to focus instead on the year-end holiday run and has set deadlines for interested producers and filmmakers.

The Letter for Intent should be submitted until June 30 at 5pm.

The deadline of submission for finished film entries and other required documents including official trailer, clippings or behind-the-scenes, meanwhile, is on September 3 at 5PM for early birds. Regular submission deadline is on September 30.

The announcement of the eight official finished film entries will be on October 15.

“With this, it is the MMFF EXECOM’s vision to encourage the submission of excellent films that would inspire, uplift and connect to a broader Filipino audience for this year's Metro Manila Film Festival even as we navigate creatively through this present pandemic.”

The first summer edition of the MMFF was launched in 2020. — Franchesca Viernes/LA, GMA News