The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will complete its 2026 lineup this week. Organizers are set to announce the final four official entries of the festival's 52nd edition on Monday, October 12, ahead of its traditional Christmas Day opening.

The announcement will be hosted by Enchong Dee and Jervi "KaladKaren" Wrightson, with several Pinoy Big Brother alumni expected to attend.

The first four

The first batch, announced on July 7 at GH Mall in San Juan, was selected from script submissions:

  • "2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7," Viva Films' follow-up to the 2019 hit, with Aga Muhlach and Xia Vigor reprising their roles under director Nuel Crisostomo Naval.

  • "Amir," a GMA Pictures drama directed by Zig Dulay and starring Dennis Trillo, Argus Aspiras, Will Ashley and Glaiza de Castro.

  • "Haunted Carnival," a Regal Entertainment horror film from director Joey De Guzman, with Julia Barretto, Maricel Soriano, James Reid, Fyang Smith and John Arcilla.

  • "The Greatest Showdown," a comedy pairing Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto, directed by Jun Robles Lana.

How the final four are chosen

Unlike the first batch, the remaining four slots go to finished films submitted to the festival's executive committee. Under this year's criteria, entries are judged 40% on technical and creative merit, 40% on commercial value, 10% on global appeal and 10% on the infusion of Filipino values.

Cheaper tickets, new host city

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and MMFF overall chair Don Artes has announced that cinema ticket prices will be capped at P299 for the festival run, with prices possibly lower in the provinces.

San Juan and Mandaluyong are this year's host cities. For the first time, the festival will also be held simultaneously in Bacolod, with the Parade of the Stars and other festival activities coming to the city.

The student short film category also returns this year, open to high school and college students nationwide. Selected five-minute shorts will be screened alongside the eight official entries.

The festival opens on December 25, 2026, and runs into January 2027, when Filipino films take over cinemas across the country.