According to the MMFF, all the films have been subjected to thorough evaluation by the body's selection panel. "Our selection committee had a difficult time choosing given the quality of the films. We have to thank them for their exhaustive and thorough deliberations," said Tim Orbos, chairman of the festival's executive committee. Orbos added that credit must be given to the "rules committee which devised the two-part selection process that gave a greater latitude to interested participants for this year".
The entries were evaluated using the following criteria: 40% for artistic excellence, 40% for commercial appeal, 10% for the promotion of Filipino cultural and historical values, and 10% for global appeal. Four films are yet to be announced to fill the remaining slots. The committee said that the complete lineup will be announced in the first week of November. The festival itself will have its run in the late weeks of December to the early weeks of January.
Here's a quick recap of the first four official entries to the MMFF 2017:
ANG PANDAY
Director: Rodel Nacianceno
Producer:CCM CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS,Inc.Lead Actor: Coco Martin
ALMOST IS NOT ENOUGH
Director: Dan Villegas
Producers: QUANTUM & MJM PRODUCTIONS
Lead Actors: Jennylyn Mercado & Jericho Rosales
THE REVENGERS
Director: Joyce A. Bernal
Producers: STAR CINEMA & VIVA FILMS
Lead Actors: Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla & Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
LOVE TRAPS #Family Goals
Director: Antonio Y. Reyes
Producer: OCTO ARTS FILMS
Lead Actors: Vic Sotto & Dawn Zulueta