MOVIE REVIEW | Metro Manila 2023 Winner Forecast: Mallari, Rewind and Firefly Vie for Awarding Supremacy

The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival features a diverse lineup of contenders vying for top honors. As the annual Awards Night approaches on December 27th, speculation mounts over which films will take home the coveted prizes. This year's ceremony, to be held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City, caps off an exciting festival showcasing the range of Philippine cinema. Leading up to the big event, festival organizers inaugurated a new 152-seat MMFF Auditorium at the MMDA Building in Pasig on December 14th. This intimate venue will host special screenings and events during the festival and in the future.  

With so much talent represented across multiple categories, competition is fierce. In this blog, we’ll analyze the frontrunners and predict the likely winners of this year’s major awards. From ambitious dramas to genre-bending independent films, many impressive works have a shot at being recognized by the festival’s jury. Stay tuned as we break down the top contenders vying for glory at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Best Picture

Predicted Winner: Mallari

Nominated: Rewind, Firefly

Mallari is an epic historical horror film directed by Derick Cabrido and written by Enrico Santos. It stars Piolo Pascual in a demanding triple role spanning three centuries, along with Janella Salvador and JC Santos. The complex, ambitious plot follows Pascual's present-day character Dr. Jonathan de Dios as he travels to his ancestral home and uncovers a dark secret about his great-great grandmother's mysterious long life, connected to the town's history of murders by a notorious priest. The story impressively jumps between the 19th century, 1948 and the present day. 

Best Direction

Predicted Winner: Pepe Diokno (Gomburza)

Nominated: Derick Cabrido (Mallari), Jun Robles (Becky and Badette)

The film "Gomburza" depicts the story of three Filipino priests - Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora - who were executed by Spanish colonial authorities in 1872 on charges related to a failed rebellion. Directed by Pepe Diokno, the film aims for historical accuracy, with meticulous production design and costumes. It does not romanticize the priests' stories, showing that Burgos and Gomez were activists, while Zamora was not involved in advocacy. Their deaths would inspire Jose Rizal. The film also explores wider injustices and inequalities faced by native clergy under Spanish rule. Though the fates of the priests are known, the film conveys their stories in an unexpected, unglamorous manner. Ultimately, it sheds light on a key episode in the Philippine struggle for self-determination.

Best Actor

Predicted Winner: Piolo Pascual (Mallari)

Nominated: Dingdong Dantes (Rewind), Euwenn Mikaell (Firefly)

The ambitious new horror film Mallari marks Piolo Pascual's first foray into the genre and gives him the challenging opportunity to play three distinct characters spanning different time periods. As the priest-turned-serial killer Fr. Juan Severino Mallari in 1812, a present-day character, and a supernatural element connecting the timelines, Pascual elevates his craft while bringing to life this fictionalized take on the Philippines' first documented serial murderer. Mallari required filming on location in remote sites and the construction of elaborate set pieces to authentically capture 200 years of history. Backed by Warner Bros., it is the most expensive Filipino film at this year's MMFF, indicating the studio's interest in the resurgent local industry. With its blending of fact and fiction, use of time jumps for modern resonance, and demands on the lead actor, Mallari represents a new level of ambition for Philippine cinema.

Best Actress

Predicted Winner: Marian Rivera (Rewind)

Nominated: Alessandra De Rossi (Firefly), Sharon Cuneta (A Family of Two)

Marian Rivera's upcoming drama film "Rewind," will be her first heavy drama and a dream project co-starring her husband Dingdong Dantes. The film is a collaboration between ABS-CBN's Star Cinema, Dingdong's AgostoDos Pictures, and Marian's Triple A. Fans have speculated about the emotional plot after seeing the trailer, which shows the couple in contrast to their happy real-life relationship. Scenes depict Dingdong treating Marian poorly as her husband in the film, belittling her outfit choice for what turns out to be her own funeral. The trailer suggests the story involves regret and reflection on treasuring life and family while you can. Rivera shares her excitement to make audiences cry with the story and hopes it inspires them to give more time to loved ones. As one of the ten entries in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival starting on Christmas, "Rewind" marks the couple's first film together in a decade and first ever team-up with Star Cinema.

Kung pwede ka lang mamili ng tatlo sa mga MMFF movies this 2023, based on the leading actors - sino sa kanila ang pipiliin mo at bakit?

Actual Results

In general, the outcomes appeared acceptable, with one notable exception in the Best Actress category. Vilma Santos emerged as the surprise winner, catching many off guard. While acknowledging Vilma's standing as a top-tier actress, her portrayal in "When I Met You in Tokyo" seemed incongruent with the usual criteria for a Best Actress accolade. 

Another aspect raising eyebrows was the Best Supporting Actress category, where Miles Ocampo (from "A Family of Two") triumphed over strong contenders like Alessandra De Rossi (from "Firefly"). De Rossi, widely anticipated to be a frontrunner and potentially in competition with Marian Rivera (from "Rewind"), added an element of unpredictability. However, such unexpected outcomes are not uncommon in the context of the MMFF, underscoring the unique dynamics of the festival.

Category	Winner	Nominees	Prediction
Best Picture	Firefly	Gomburza Mallari When I Met You in Tokyo	Wrong
Best Director	Pepe Diokno (Gomburza)	Zig Dulay (Firefly) Jun Lana (Becky & Badette) Mae Cruz-Alviar (Rewind) Derick Cabrido (Mallari) Rado Peru, Rommel Peneza (When I Met You In Tokyo)	Correct
Best Actor	Cedrick Juan (Gomburza)	Alden Richards (Family of Two) Dingdong Dantes (Rewind) Derek Ramsay (Kampon) Piolo Pascual (Mallari) Christopher de Leon (When I Met You In Tokyo)	Wrong
Best Actress	Vilma Santos (When I Met You In Tokyo)	Eugene Domingo (Becky and Badette) Pokwang (Becky and Badette) Sharon Cuneta (Family of Two) Beauty Gonzalez (Kampon) Marian Rivera (Rewind)	Wrong

For the complete list of winners, please refer to:

2023 Metro Manila Film Festival. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Metro_Manila_Film_Festival