Filipino moviegoers will have eight homegrown films to choose from this Christmas, as the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) completes its official lineup for 2026 with a mix of major star collaborations, historical storytelling, family drama, horror, and faith-inspired cinema.
The 52nd edition of the festival finalized its roster on Monday, October 12, during an announcement at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, adding four productions to the entries introduced earlier this year.
The completed selection brings together some of Philippine entertainment’s most recognizable personalities while giving filmmakers room to explore stories beyond conventional holiday blockbusters.
Among the newly announced films is A Perfect Marriage, directed by Dan Villegas and starring Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino. The project reunites the popular KimPau pairing, whose previous collaborations have attracted considerable attention from television and film audiences.
The festival will also feature Los Salvajes Bravos, a historical drama starring Romnick Sarmenta and Ruru Madrid. Set against the backdrop of the 1887 exposition in Madrid, the film follows Filipinos brought to Spain and displayed before the public, confronting questions of identity, exploitation, and dignity.
Another addition, Little Hope, brings together Pepe Herrera and Yassi Pressman under writer-director Benedict Mique. The production introduces a family-centered narrative to the competition.
Meanwhile, Seeds of Peace: The Life of Father Rhoel D. Gallardo, CMF explores the story of the late Claretian missionary through a documentary-inspired production directed by Rommel Galapia Ruiz. Zaijian Jaranilla is among its featured performers.
Major screen partnerships join the competition
The four newly selected films will compete alongside productions announced in July, including The Greatest Showdown, which brings together comedy personalities Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto.
Directed by Jun Robles Lana, the film marks a notable collaboration between two performers whose respective holiday releases have long been associated with the Philippine box office.
Another entry, Amir, pairs Dennis Trillo with director Zig Dulay. The GMA Pictures production also features Argus Aspiras, Will Ashley, and Glaiza de Castro.
For audiences seeking horror, Haunted Carnival assembles an ensemble that includes Maricel Soriano, John Arcilla, Julia Barretto, James Reid, Fyang Smith, and RK Bagatsing. Joey de Guzman directs the film.
Rounding out the roster is 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7, directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval. The project follows the commercially successful 2019 Filipino adaptation of the South Korean film Miracle in Cell No. 7.
Together, the eight entries reflect different approaches to filmmaking, combining established screen partnerships with stories drawn from history, personal relationships, and contemporary Filipino experiences.
Lower ticket prices for festival audiences
This year’s MMFF will also introduce a measure intended to make the cinema experience more affordable.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes earlier announced an agreement with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines to set a maximum regular cinema ticket price of P299 for the festival.
The amount serves as a ceiling rather than a fixed admission fee, allowing participating cinemas to offer lower prices depending on their arrangements with producers and theater operators. Premium and specialty cinema formats are not covered by the regular ticket-price cap.
The pricing initiative comes as the Philippine film industry continues working to attract audiences back to theaters amid changing viewing habits and the popularity of streaming platforms.
For participating filmmakers, the festival provides an opportunity to reach a broad domestic audience during one of the country’s busiest moviegoing periods.
MMFF 2026 is scheduled to open on December 25, 2026, and continue until January 7, 2027.
With the selection process completed, attention now turns to the films themselves and how audiences will respond to this year’s competing productions.
From established comedy stars sharing the screen to filmmakers revisiting overlooked chapters of Philippine history, the festival’s latest edition offers a varied picture of the stories Filipino cinema is preparing to tell.