Despite being rejected the first time around in script submissions, Loy Arcenas’ Ang Larawan finally made the cut and has been selected as one of the final four entries in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

The musical film about National Artist for Literature’s Nick Joaquin’s three-act play, Portrait of an Artist as Filipino (with music from National Artist for Music Rolando Tinio and Maestro Ryan Cayabyab),which recently had its worldwide premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, was previously passed over during the first round of selection of entries based on script submission.

“We are in shock because it was written by Nick Joaquin and translated by Rolando Tinio and our cast line-up is also very good… we have the best singers who can act,” singer/actress Celeste Legaspi, who serves as one of the film’s producers, told reporters at a press conference on July 4 shortly after the announcement that they were not one of the chosen four.

But after film production wrapped up, Ang Larawan‘s filmmakers decided to resubmit and now they complete the final four entries to be shown in this year’s MMFF.

Joining Ang Larawan in the lineup of selected finished films to compete are: Siargao directed by Paul Soriano, Haunted Forest directed by Regal Entertainment and Deadma Walking by Julius Alfonso.

These entries will be joined by the previously announced four films chosen via script submissions: Ang Panday by Coco Martin (real name: Rodel Pacheco Nacianceno), Almost is Not Enough directed by Dan Villegas, Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad by Joyce Bernal and Meant to Beh directed by Chris Martinez.
The MMFF runs from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2018.

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