Ten official entries of the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) can now be enjoyed by the global audience as its overseas edition, the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), opens at the TCL Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.
These films will likewise be given awards that are separate and independent from the MMFF awards given last December 2023. Filipino Americans who are accomplished in the film industry will serve as jury members and will decide the winners in nine categories.
These awards, which will be given in a star-studded closing night awards gala at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard, include:
Best Picture, where the winner will be given the opportunity to make a US-based feature film co-produced by Birns & Sawyer. It will award up to $100,000 worth of camera rental equipment with the support of other industry vendors. The package is valued overall at $200,000 with the support of industry partners, Atlas Lens Co., BlackOps Studios Asia, CMB Film Services, Inc., and Myriad Entertainment USA.
Special Jury Prize, which is a special award to be decided by the jury and will be given to a film that deserves recognition.
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Screenplay
Best Cinematography
The Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay winners will each receive the latest version of Final Draft Software valued at $250 through partnership with Birns & Sawyer.
“The MIFF will be very vital in further uplifting the quality of Filipino films as it reaches foreign moviegoers.”
The two other MIFF recognitions are the Audience Award to be voted on by the MIFF moviegoers at the screenings which will run through February 1, and the Monty Manibog Lifetime Achievement Award which is set to be given to actress Hilda Koronel.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman and concurrent MMFF Overall Chairman Atty. Don Artes said that the MIFF will be very vital in further uplifting the quality of Filipino films as it reaches foreign moviegoers.
“This MIFF will further validate the fact that Filipino films are truly exceptional and world class.”
“I am confident that the success of the MMFF in Manila last December can be replicated through the support of our Filipino community in LA and the international audience. I believe this MIFF will further validate the fact that Filipino films are truly exceptional and world class,” he said.
The distinguished MIFF jurors are:
𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗘 𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔 (𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆)
She is one of the first Filipinos in the Directors Guild of America (DGA). She also directed episodes of Queen Sugar (OWN), Fire Country (CBS), The Resident ( FOX ), Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+), and both seasons of The Cleaning Lady ( FOX ). She was an executive producer and the director of both seasons of Family Style (HBO Max).
𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜 𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗗𝗢
In 2019, she led the transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) of Birns & Sawyer, one of the oldest and most well-known motion picture camera rental and sales companies in Hollywood. A year later, she became its CEO — the first female leader in the company after 66 years.
𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗛 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔
A director of photography, her numerous projects gained significant recognition including her latest feature documentary film Every Body which was shortlisted by the NYDOC for the 2023 Oscars. The film is currently playing on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Peacock.
𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗚𝗜𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗘
He starred in various TV shows such as the NBC’s hit sci-fi police drama Grimm where he played Sgt. Wu. Most recently, he starred as Head Deputy District Attorney Thomas Choi on CBS’s All Rise and as Angelo Soto on Netflix’s Lincoln Lawyer. Before Grimm, he was best known for his role as Secret Service Agent Bill Kim on the popular FOX show Prison Break.
He can also be seen in the new season of CSI: Vegas on CBS as Undersheriff Bobby Zhao. He has also recurred and guest starred in countless TV shows and has performed on Broadway.
𝗗𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚
He was recently appointed the Academic and Artistic Director of the School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Summer Program at USC and is the Lead Faculty for USC’s SCA Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) Filmmaking Workshop for underrepresented high school students.
His feature film debut, Too Much Sleep, won an Independent Spirit Award nomination, was featured in Variety’s annual “Someone to Watch” article, and earned the IFP Project Involve Fellowship.
𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗢
She has worked extensively in film and television, including series regular and leading film roles. She got her first show on ER where she played the first Filipina nurse, Duvata Mahal. She currently stars in The Deal as Tala Bayani where she is a co-producer. She has produced or executive produced eight films to date, including Nanny, Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance 2022.
The 10 films to be screened in America at MIFF are: Becky and Badette, Broken Heart’s Trip, Family of Two (A Mother and Son Story), Firefly, GomBurZa, (K)Ampon, Mallari, Penduko, Rewind, and When I Met You in Tokyo.
