The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), through its official Facebook page, has finally issued a statement regarding the much-awaited 2017 box-office returns.
On January 8, at around 1:40 p.m., the MMFF posted: "We have exceeded our 1 billion target."
The accompanying picture said, “We have hit our targets and have set new records with the MMFF 2017 grosses.”
Shortly after the MMFF opened last December 25, the MMFF Execom said that MMFF 2017 broke box-office records by surpassing the MMFF 2015 first-day and second-day gross sales. As for foot traffic to theaters, it tripled that of MMFF 2016's.
But in 2017, no box-office numbers were released while the MMFF was going on.
This is because, this year, the MMFF Executive Committee—in agreement with film producers and theater owners—increased the fine for preempting release of box-office earnings to P200,000.
Moreover, a production outfit proven guilty of releasing the numbers ahead would not be allowed to join the MMFF in 2018.
The 2017 MMFF was supposed to run only until yesterday, January 7, but the Execom has good news for those who have yet to watch their favorites and those who want to watch more of the entries to the film festival.
“Acting on the clamor of the moviegoers (especially those who just came back from their holiday vacation) and with the utmost cooperation of theater operators, we have extended the showing of the MMFF films in select cinemas.”
In an Instagram post by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer), the following cinemas are enumerated: SM Cinema, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Starmall Cinemas, and Cinema 2000.
According to Ferrer, Cinema2000 will continue to honor the MMFF season passes at Eastwood, Shangri-La, Festival Mall, Commercentet [sic], and Fora Tagaytay.
Now on its 43rd year, this edition of MMFF features eight official entries: All of You, Ang Larawan, Deadma Walking, Haunted Forest, Meant to Beh, Ang Panday, Siargao, and Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad.
The MMFF concluded its statement by thanking moviegoers and giving MMFF a new meaning: Magkaisang Mapaunlad ang Filipino Films.