Now in its 50th year, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) takes the spotlight with hopes of replicating — or even surpassing — the record-breaking success achieved in 2023.

The MMFF celebrates its golden year with a lineup of 10 films, an upgrade from the usual eight, offering Filipinos a diverse array of cinematic experiences starting Christmas Day. On December 25, Philippine cinemas excluding IMAX and 4D theaters will exclusively feature local films.

The 49th MMFF in 2023 achieved an all-time high gross sales of about P1.069 billion, running from December 25, 2023 to January 7, 2024. This surpassed the previous record of P1.061 billion set in 2018.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) attributed this success to the quality of the films and their broad appeal to Filipino audiences.

Whether MMFF 2024 can outperform last year’s feat remains to be seen, with its success hinging on the support of moviegoers.

This year’s festival showcases a mix of genres featuring top-tier celebrities whose star power is expected to draw audiences.

Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto return to the MMFF with family dramas in a departure from their usual comedic roles. Vice Ganda stars alongside Eugene Domingo and Gladys Reyes in "And the Breadwinner Is…," while Vic Sotto partners with Piolo Pascual in "The Kingdom."

Vilma Santos, last year's MMFF Best Actress, is also returning for "Uninvited" which also stars Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre.

Vilma Santos, who won Best Actress in last year’s MMFF, returns for "Uninvited," a thriller co-starring Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre. Meanwhile, Judy Ann Santos and Lorna Tolentino headline "Espantaho," and Dennis Trillo teams up with Ruru Madrid for "Green Bones."

Other celebs include Enrique Gil, Julia Barretto, Carlo Aquino, Arjo Atayde, Julia Montes, Enchong Dee, Francine Diaz, and Seth Fedelin, among others.

National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee also lends his screenwriting brilliance to two entries: "Green Bones" and "Isang Himala." The latter is based on the 2018 theatrical adaptation of the 1982 classic "Himala," which notably premiered at the MMFF 42 years ago.

Here are the 10 films this MMFF:

AND THE BREADWINNER IS...
Directed by Jun Lana
Genre: Comedy, Family

Synopsis:
Bambi Salvador (Vice Ganda), an overseas Filipino worker, returns home to Arayat, Pampanga, on her birthday, only to find her dream house in ruins. To support her family, she revives "Papsy's Panaderyuh," a quirky bakery-funeral parlor hybrid.

Chaos ensues when she's mistakenly declared dead in a bus accident, leaving her with a moral dilemma: claim a P2 million insurance payout by staying "dead" or reveal the truth.

GREEN BONES
Directed by Zig Dulay
Genre: Suspense, Drama

Synopsis:
Corrections officer Gonzaga (Ruru Madrid) wrestles with grief and rage as he encounters Domingo Zamora (Dennis Trillo), a convicted murderer on the verge of release. Torn between his duty and personal feelings, Gonzaga questions justice, humanity, and the cost of redemption.

ISANG HIMALA
Directed by Pepe Diokno
Genre: Musical

Synopsis:
This adaptation of the acclaimed 2018 theater production Himala: Isang Musikal revisits Ishmael Bernal's classic tale of Elsa, whose visions of the Virgin Mary incite mass hysteria in a drought-stricken village. The film explores faith, fame, and the struggles of a community in turmoil.

THE KINGDOM
Directed by Michael Tuviera
Genre: Action, Family, Drama

Synopsis:
King Lakan Makisig (Vic Sotto) of Kalayaan faces a succession crisis among his three children. When his youngest daughter, Lualhati, is kidnapped before her wedding, an outcast named Sulo (Piolo Pascual) secretly rescues her, challenging the kingdom's leadership.

STRANGE FREQUENCIES: TAIWAN KILLER HOSPITAL
Directed by Kerwin Go
Genre: Horror

Synopsis:
Actor Enrique Gil (playing himself) joins a ghost-hunting team to explore Taiwan's haunted Xinglin Hospital. This found footage-style film, inspired by Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, promises spine-chilling thrills.

ESPANTAHO
Directed by Chito S. Roño
Genre: Horror

Synopsis:
As Monet (Judy Ann Santos) and her mother, Rosa (Lorna Tolentino), mourn their patriarch's death during a solemn pasiyam, eerie occurrences and long-buried secrets disrupt their grieving process.

HOLD ME CLOSE
Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana
Genre: Romance

Synopsis:
Wanderer Woody (Carlo Aquino) crosses paths with Lynlyn (Julia Barretto) in Japan. Lynlyn’s unique ability to sense whether people bring joy or harm complicates their connection, leading to a heartfelt exploration of love and destiny.

MY FUTURE YOU
Directed by Crisanto Aquino
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Synopsis:
Karen (Francine Diaz) and Lex (Seth Fedelin) meet through a dating app that transcends timelines, connecting them across 15 years. A mysterious comet ties their destinies, offering a chance to alter their futures.

TOPAKK
Directed by Richard Somes
Genre: Action, Thriller

Synopsis:
Miguel (Arjo Atayde), a former special forces operative battling PTSD, is thrust back into action when he protects Isabel (Julia Montes) from a corrupt police squad allied with a drug cartel.

UNINVITED
Directed by Dan Villegas
Genre: Thriller

Synopsis:
Eva Candelaria (Vilma Santos) reinvents herself as a socialite to exact revenge on billionaire Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach), whom she blames for her daughter’s murder. Her plans unfold at his lavish birthday party, where justice and secrets collide. #