MMFF 2017 sets new record for first two days

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee (Execom) said that the 2017 film festival has exceeded the gross sales for the first two days compared to 2015, though it did not announce specific figures.

It also said that the foot traffic and and box office sales tripled compared to 2016.

In a statement posted on Execom Public Relations head and spokesperson Noel Ferrer’s Instagram account, MMFF Execom chair Tim Orbos said that the biggest achievement was for people to return to cinemas.

“The big achievement is bringing back our kababayans to the theaters. It took quite some time before we saw this kind of enthusiasm once again from the Filipino viewers,” Orbos said.

MMFF 2017 SETS A NEW RECORD AS THE HIGHEST 1ST & 2ND DAY GROSS This year’s Metro Manila Film Festival broke box-office records as it surpassed the 2015 first and second day gross sales. It also tripled the foot traffic to the theaters from last year. “The big achievement is bringing back our kababayans to the theaters. It took quite some time before we saw this kind of enthusiasm once again from the Filipino viewers,” said MMFF Execom Chair Tim Orbos. From the Parade Of Stars in Muntinlupa to the post Holiday theater tours, people have flocked to the theaters once more to support the all-Filipino film line up that went through gruelling screening from an esteemed Selection Committee headed by no less than National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera. Now that we have the audience and the revenues back on track, we are committed to continue supporting quality productions that would satisfy and enrich our general film audiences. #MMFF2017 #mabuhayangpelikulangpilipino

A post shared by Noel Ferrer (@iamnoelferrer) on Dec 26, 2017 at 7:04pm PST

The announcement also said that the committee is committed to supporting quality films, and called on the public to support and watch all films.

“Now that we have the audience and the revenues back on track, we are committed to continue supporting quality productions that would satisfy and enrich our general film audiences.”

In a previous announcement, the MMFF said that it decided not to release the specific figures and rankings to avoid a bandwagon effect among viewers. 

It was reported that Vice Ganda’s The Revenger Squad and Coco Martin’s Ang Panday were among the movies doing well based in the long lines in cinemas. 

The past festivals saw the release of specific ranking and sales figures. But in 2016, only rankings were released. – Rappler.com