LIST: MMFF entries you can watch this holiday season

Metro Manila, Philippines - Ten local movies will hit cinemas beginning Christmas day for the golden edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

Here are the entries you can check out.

1. And The Breadwinner Is…

Comedian superstar Vice Ganda is back on the annual festival, this time showcasing his dramatic chops on the big screen. Vice plays the role of Bambi, an overseas Filipino worker who returns home, eagerly anticipating seeing his dream house. He later agreed to fake his death after his family thought he was killed in an accident. The film also stars Eugene Domingo, Jhong Hilario, and Gladys Reyes.

2. Espantaho

Veteran actresses Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino are set to deliver spine-tingling performances in this Chito Roño horror offering. The movie follows the story of mother and daughter, Monet and Rosa, who discover disturbing family secrets while grieving the loss of their patriarch.

3. Green Bones

Written by Ricky Lee, the movie tells the story of a prisoner up for parole, notorious for the death of his sister. The story thickens when he meets a newly assigned prison guard who’s grieving the death of his sister. The film is top-billed by Kapuso stars Dennis Trillo and Ruru Madrid, and is directed by Zig Dulay - the director behind MMFF 2023 Best Picture “Firefly”.

4. Hold Me Close

Julia Barretto and Carlo Aquino star in a romantic fantasy set in Japan. The film follows a man who meets a woman with the ability to sense, through touch, whether someone will bring happiness or harm into her life.

5. Isang Himala

Missed the iconic 1982 film “Himala”? This musical brings a fresh new life into the beloved classic with an ensemble of OPM singers. Led by Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante, the film is based on a theatrical play of the same name - inspired by the classic Nora Aunor movie. It is directed by MMFF 2023 best director Pepe Diokno, and was co-written by national artist, Ricky Lee.

6. My Future You

Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin also known as FranSeth are bringing the kilig feels this holiday season. The film tells the story of two strangers who meet on a dating app, only to discover they come from different timelines.

7. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital

Set in Taiwan, this MMFF entry is dubbed as the Philippines' first meta found footage horror film. Inspired by a 2018 South Korean movie, it revolves around a group of Filipino ghost hunters exploring the haunted Xinglin Hospital in Tainan. The film is led by Enrique Gil and Jane De Leon.

8. The Kingdom

Set in the Kingdom of “Kalayaan” - this movie features an alternate reality where the Philippines was not colonized. MMFF returnee Vic Sotto stars as Lakan Makisig, on the brink of choosing a successor from his three children. Piolo Pascual portrays an outcast farmer, who is entrusted with the care of the King’s daughter after she is kidnapped.

9. Topakk

Arjo Atayde and Julia Montes are leading the pack in this year's lone action film, about a former special forces operative with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who helps a woman pursued by the police. The movie premiered at the prestigious Cannes Festival in 2023.

10. Uninvited

Moviegoers are in for an unforgettable acting showdown as film legends from different generations Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach, and Nadine Lustre unite in this gripping psychological thriller. The movie follows the story of a mother who crashes a billionaire’s party to seek revenge for her daughter’s murder. Directed by Dan Villegas, it also stars Tirso Cruz III, Mylene Dizon, RK Bagatsing, and Elijah Canlas.