5 Indie Films will be featured in 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival
by Archie Liao
Five independently produced films will be screened as a prelude to the annual Metro Manila Film Festival this year. These films will be shown in SM Megamall, Glorietta 4 and Robinsons Ermita cinemas from December 17-24, 2015.
Here are the five finalists under the 2015 MMFF New Wave full-length feature category.
1.) Ari My Life with a King- is the coming-of-age story of a Filipino boy trying to rediscover his native roots. Twenty-five years after Mount Pinatoba erupted, the Kimpanpangans still struggle to keep their language and culture alive. Spearheading the movement is a poet circle led by an elected chief — known locally as the King of Poets.
Cast: Ronwaldo Martin, Francisco Guinto, Cecile Yumul, Chloe Carpio and Jonalyn Ablong
Direction: Carlo Enciso Catu
2.) Mandirigma (Warriors)-is a movie inspired by true to life events. It is about warriors in the battlefield fighting everything they got in the 
fiercest of encounters with only one rule: to fight to live.
Cast: Luis Alandy, Ping Medina. Marc Solis, Alwyn Uytingco, Jerico Estregan, Victor Basa, Carlo Cruz, Ken Anderson, Jeffrey Marquez, Buboy Villar and Mon Confiado as “Hamda Marawan.”
Direction: Arlyn de la Cruz
3.)Tandem- is an action drama about two brothers who use the chaos of the city roads as a smokescreen for their shady occupation — tandem robbers on motorbike. But when a robbery goes sour, the brothers are forced to 
graduate from low level thieves to high profile hit men in an act that tests both their resolve and their relationship.
Cast: JM de Guzman, Nico Antonio, Alan Paule, Paolo O’hara, Joel Saracho, Elora Españo, Simon Ibarra, Karl Medina, BJ Flores and Rochelle Pangilinan
Direction: King Palisoc
4.) Turo-turo-is an inspiring and beautiful drama film which tackles issues about illiteracy.
Cast: AJ Dee, Enchong Dee, Albert Silos, Mosang, Janna Dominguez, Marife 
Necesito
Direction: Ray An Dulay
5.)Toto- is a comedy-drama about a young Filipino room service attendant whose determination to attain a U.S. visa precipitates an odyssey of universal import. Undeterred by his lack of education and scant prospects, he 
schemes relentlessly to achieve his goal. When his antics put the lives of his loved ones in danger, however, he is forced to question the extremity of his actions and to reevaluate the cost of fulfilling his dreams.
Cast:Sid Lucero Thou Reyes Blake Boyd Mara Lopez Neil Ryan Sese Bembol Roco Bibeth Orteza Liza Diño Rafa Siguion-Reyna Jelson Bay Che Ramos Marnie Lapus Raul Montesa Carlos Cruz David Christopher Lorenz Martinez Sheila Valderrama
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Direction: John Paul Su
Aside from these full-length features, animation and short films will also be shown during the entire festival run.
The finalists under the short films category are “Daisy” by Bryan Reyes,”Ding Mangasyas (Tough Guys)” by Justine Emmanuel Dizon, “Lapis” by Maricel Cariaga,”Momento” by Jan-Kyle Nieva and “Mumu” by Jean Cheryl Tagyamon.
Johanna Kaye Boncodin’s “8”, Marvel Obemio, Francis Ramirez and Jared Garcia’s “Buttons”, John Aurthur Mercader’s “Geo”, Rivelle Mallari’s “Little Lights” and Ja Marti Escandor’s “Marvino’s League of Superheroes” are the finalists under the animation category.
