MMFF announces return of student short film contest

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) revealed that this year’s edition will revive its short film competition for high school and college students nationwide.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Jose Javier Reyes made the announcement during the MMFF kickoff event on Tuesday, July 7 in San Juan City. Reyes, as FDCP chair, is a government partner and member of the MMFF executive committee.

“Ang student short film contest ng Metro Manila Film Festival is open to all students—high school to college,” he said. “All you have to do is to prepare a five-minute short film.”

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“Sa ating mga ine-expect na kinabukasan ng pelikulang Pilipino, ang ating mga batang filmmakers hindi lamang sa Maynila kundi sa Bacolod, Cebu, Davao—all over the country, ito na ang pagkakataon niyo para makilala kayo,” Reyes invited.

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He further remarked, “Tandaan natin na ang pelikulang Pilipino ay hindi lamang nakasentro sa Maynila kundi sa pitong libong isla ng ating republika.”

(To the future of Philippine cinema, our young filmmakers—not only from Manila but also from Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, and across the country—this is your opportunity to be recognized. Let us all remember that Philippine cinema is not only centered in Manila, but across the more than 7,000 islands of our republic.)

MMDA Chairman and MMFF chairperson Atty. Don Artes also confirmed the return of the competition, also noting that they will hold caravans for students.

“Ibabalik po natin ang student short film kung saan tayo po ay magpapa-contest sa mga estudyante na gagawa ng five-minute movie. Ang mga mapipili po d’yan ay ipalalabas kasama ng mga entries ng 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival,” Artes said.

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“Abangan niyo po kami, sa ating mga estudyante. Magkakaroon po tayo ng caravan, siguro isa dito sa Metro Manila at isa sa Bacolod City kung saan magtuturo po ang FDCP, and Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) , in cooperation with MMFF ng short filmmaking,” he added.

(We will bring back the student short film competition, where we will invite students to create five-minute films. The selected entries will be screened alongside the official entries of the 2026 Metro Manila Film Festival. For our students, stay tuned as we will be holding caravans—likely one in Metro Manila and one in Bacolod City—where the FDCP and the Film Academy of the Philippines, in cooperation with the Metro Manila Film Festival, will conduct short filmmaking workshops.)

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The winning short film will be awarded P100,000 as well as separate P20,000 and P50,000 grants for the film’s development and production.

During the kickoff event, MMFF also revealed the first four official film entries for this year’s edition—namely “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7” which stars Aga Muhlach; “Amir” which stars Dennis Trillo and Glaiza de Castro; “Haunted Carnival” which stars Julia Barreto and James Reid; and “The Greatest Showdown” which stars Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda. /edv

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