Manila Int'l Film Fest postponed amid southern California wildfires

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) has been postponed amid the raging wildfires in southern California in the United States.

The second edition of the MIFF was scheduled from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Films that will be featured include entries in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival such as “Green Bones,” “And the Breadwinner is…” and blockbuster movie “Hello, Love, Again.”

“We are devastated by the tremendous impact of the wildfires on many people, including the Filipino community,” MIFF chairman and co-founder Omen Ortiz said in a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

“We look forward to announcing the new dates of this year’s MIFF where we plan to honor the frontline workers and volunteers, including the Filipino first responders, who are heroically battling the wildfires,” he added.

Ortiz called on the public to support fire relief efforts.

Based on reports, 25 people were killed while about 88,000 are in evacuation orders.