Excitement has started to build up across the capital as the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), in cooperation with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), kicked off a series of dynamic initiatives on Thursday, September 19, to mark its 50th anniversary, set to culminate on Christmas Day.

Celebrating five decades of Filipino cinematic excellence, the rollout of MMFF's 'Sinesigla sa Singkwenta' activities was held at the MMDA Auditorium, where MMDA Chairman and lawyer Don Artes, Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) Chairman and veteran actress Boots Anson-Rodrigo, and National Artist for Film Ricky Lee, among other government officials and industry leaders, introduced the thoughtfully curated projects to commemorate the festival's rich history while signaling a promising future for Philippine cinema.