| 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 25, 2008 to January 7, 2009 |
| Site | Manila |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | Baler |
| Most awards | Baler (10) |
| Television coverage | |
| Network | C/S 9 |
The 34th Annual 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival started from December 25, 2008, to January 7, 2009.
This year marks the return of the Escalera brothers in Iskul Bukol 20 Years After (Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure) and the hardworking mother, Ina Montecillo in Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat.
Compared to last year's nine official entries, however, this year has only eight, all of which are being shown simultaneously during the 10-day run of the film fest. The lineup includes four comedy movies, two dramatic flicks, a horror trilogy and a digital animated film. It is expected to run from December 25, 2008, to January 7, 2009. All official entries are open on Christmas Day.
Viva Films' Baler, which aims to retell a contentious event of the Philippine revolution that happened in the church of San Luis de Tolosa in Baler, Aurora from July 1998 to June 1899, won ten awards including the Best Picture, Best Actress for Anne Curtis, Best Director for Mark Meily and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards among others.
The entry with the second most awards was the animated film Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia, which won four awards including the Best Visual Effects for Robert Quilao, Best Musical Score for Jessie Lasaten, Best Theme Song entitled "Lipad" written by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr., and performed by Lea Salonga, as long as the Best Sound Production for Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa.
This year's box office top grossers, Star Cinema's Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat and the OctoArts Films-M-Zet Productions-APT Entertainment collaboration Iskul Bukol 20 Years After won Second and Third Festival's Best Picture awards respectively.[1]