‘Firefly’ wins big at MIFF; Piolo Pascual, Dingdong Dantes tie for Best Actor

The 10 films that competed at MMFF 2023 led by “Firefly” competed at the inaugural MIFF in Los Angeles, United States, with a separate jury to distinguish honors.

The film won more honors as Alessandra de Rossi won Best Supporting Actress and filmmaker Zig Dulay won Best Director.

Following “Firefly” in the award haul was as Pepe Herrera won Best Supporting Actor while Dingdong Dantes was a joint winner for Best Actor, sharing it with Piolo Pascual from “Mallari.”

At MMFF 2023, Miles Ocampo from “Family of Two” won Best Supporting Actress, Pepe Diokno of “GomBurza” won Best Director, JC Santos of “Mallari” won Best Supporting Actor, and Cedrick Juan of “GomBurZa” beat out both Dingdong and Piolo for Best Actor.

Wrapping up the MIFF wins was director of photography for “GomBurZa” Carlo Mendoza for Best Cinematography, just as he did at the 2023 MMFF.

Rewind failed to receive an award at the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal. Despite ending up empty-handed during the MMFF awards night, Rewind managed to become the Philippines’ highest-grossing film of all time as of January 26, raking in a total of P889 million worldwide.

The Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), an annual event that serves as a platform for Filipino films made in the Philippines to make a mark in Hollywood and the international film scene, held in Los Angeles on February 3 .

Then-mayor of Manila Antonio Villegas inaugurated the “Manila Film Festival” (“Manila Tagalog Film Festival”). It was set up in order to get Philippine films screened in “first-run” theaters which at that time only screened American films.