President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday encouraged Filipinos to join the 50th anniversary celebration of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and watch the film entries this year in time for the holiday season.

“Ngayong kapaskuhan, bibidang muli ang mga kwento ng ating lahi. Dahil ito sa espesyal na selebrasyon na ika-50 taon ng Metro Manila Film Festival na bahagi na ng ating buhay at kultura bilang Pilipino,” President Marcos said in his message.

“Ang mga magagandang pelikulang kalahok ngayon ng golden year ng MMFF ay siguradong magbibigay ng gintong saya at mag-iiwan ng mga ginintuang aral.”

The President enjoined moviegoers to support Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 by watching 10 film entries, which he said are stories about Filipinos.

Among the film entries were And the Breadwinner is…, Green Bones, Isang Himala, The Kingdom, Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital, Espantaho, Hold Me Close, My Future You, Topakk, and Uninvited.

The 2024 MMFF carries the theme “Sinesigla sa Singkwenta.

The MMFF is an annual film festival organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which runs from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day and into the first weekend of January in the following year.

Held nationwide, it focuses on films produced by Filipino talents.