# 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival

The 29th Metro Manila Film Festival was held in the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay, Philippines, from December 25, 2003 to January 8, 2004.
Maricel Soriano and Eric Quizon were chosen the Best Actress and Best Actor respectively in the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival for playing the eldest child roles in two different films. Soriano plays the oldest of six children in Viva Films' Filipinas, while Quizon plays the eldest son who, in keeping with Chinese tradition, hires professional mourners to weep at his father's funeral, in Unitel Pictures' Crying Ladies. Hilda Koronel, cast as a 1970s bit player whose career is on the wane in Crying Ladies, was named the Best Supporting Actress, while Victor Neri won as the Best Supporting Actor for playing the activist-middle son in Filipinas.

## Entries

There are two batches of films in competition, the first batch was shown from December 25, while the second batch was shown on January 1, 2004.
| Title | Starring | Studio | Director | Genre |
| First batch |||||
| Captain Barbell | Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr., Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Albert Martinez, Jeffrey Quizon, Snooky Serna, Antonio Aquitania, Sarah Geronimo | Premiere Entertainment Productions | Mac C. Alejandre | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Superhero |
| Crying Ladies | Sharon Cuneta, Hilda Koronel, Angel Aquino, Eric Quizon, Ricky Davao, Julio Pacheco, Shamaine Buencamino, Sherry Lara, Raymond Bagatsing | Unitel Pictures | Mark Meily | Comedy, Drama |
| Fantastic Man | Vic Sotto, Ara Mina, Michael V., Zoren Legaspi, Leo Martinez, Danica Sotto, Alicia Mayer | Octoarts Films M-Zet Productions | Tony Y. Reyes | Adventure, Action, Comedy, Superhero |
| Filipinas | Maricel Soriano, Richard Gomez, Aiko Melendez, Dawn Zulueta, Victor Neri, Wendell Ramos, Raymond Bagatsing, Andrea del Rosario, Sunshine Dizon, Tanya Garcia, Anne Curtis, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Sarah Geronimo | VIVA Films | Joel Lamangan | Drama |
| Homecoming | Elizabeth Oropesa, Bembol Roco, James Blanco, Alessandra de Rossi | Teamwork Productions | Gil Portes | Drama |
| Malikmata | Rica Peralejo, Marvin Agustin, Dingdong Dantes, Ricky Davao, Wowie de Guzman, Ana Capri, Nikki Valdez, Ms. Barbara Perez | Octoarts Films | Jose Javier Reyes | Crime, Drama, Horror |
| Mano Po II: My Home | Susan Roces, Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kris Aquino, Judy Ann Santos, Carmina Villarroel, Jay Manalo, Cogie Domingo, Richard Gutierrez, Zoren Legaspi, Alessandra de Rossi, Karylle, Chynna Ortaleza, Angel Locsin | Regal Films | Erik Matti | Drama |
| Second batch |||||
| Bridal Shower | Dina Bonnevie, Cherry Pie Picache, Francine Prieto, Christian Vasquez, Rodel Velayo, Boots Anson-Roa, Gina Pareno, Alfred Vargas, Douglas Robinson, Juancho Valentino | Seiko Films | Jeffrey Jeturian | Drama, Comedy, Romance |
| Gagamboy | Vhong Navarro, Jay Manalo, Aubrey Miles, Long Mejia, Bearwin Meily | MAQ Productions | Erik Matti | Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Superhero |

## Winners and nominees
### Awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.
| Best Film | Best Director |
| Crying Ladies - Unitel Pictures Mano Po II: My Home - Regal Films (2nd Best Picture) Filipinas - VIVA Films (3rd Best Picture) | Mark Meily - Crying Ladies |
| Best Actor | Best Actress |
| Eric Quizon – Crying Ladies | Maricel Soriano – Filipinas |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress |
| Victor Neri – Filipinas | Hilda Koronel – Crying Ladies |
| Best Cinematography | Best Production Design |
| J. A. Tadena - Mano Po II: My Home | Rodell Cruz - Mano Po II: My Home |
| Best Child Performer | Best Editing |
| Julio Pacheco - Crying Ladies | Vito Cajili - Malikmata |
| Best Original Story | Best Screenplay |
| Lily Monteverde and Roy Iglesias - Mano Po II: My Home | Roy Iglesias - Filipinas |
| Best Original Theme Song | Best Musical Score |
| ("Isang Pagtanaw") - Homecoming | Francis Guevarra and Ferdie Marquez - Malikmata |
| Best Visual Effects | Best Make-up Artist |
| Dodge Ledesma Roadrunner Network, Inc. - Malikmata | Florencio Pinero, Gretta Estoesta, and Oscar Buara - Fantastic Man |
| Best Sound Recording | Best Float |
| Mike Idioma - Malikmata | Mano Po II: My Home - Regal Films |
| Most Gender-Sensitive Film |
| Homecoming |
| Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Awards |
| Filipinas - VIVA Films |

### People's Choice awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.
| People's Choice for Best Picture | People's Choice for Best Actor |
| Mano Po II: My Home - Regal Films | Richard Gomez - Filipinas |
| People's Choice for Best Actress |
| Sharon Cuneta - Crying Ladies |

## Multiple awards

| Awards | Film |
| 5 | Crying Ladies |
| 5 | Filipinas |
| 5 | Mano Po II: My Home |
| 4 | Malikmata |
| 2 | Homecoming |

## Box Office gross

Only final rankings as of January 8, 2004 were released.
| Entry | Gross Ticket Sales |
| Captain Barbell | ₱ 62,064,626 |
| Fantastic Man | ₱ 55,000,000 |
| Crying Ladies | ₱ 49,000,000 |
| Mano Po II: My Home | ₱ 47,000,000 |
| Malikmata | ₱ 39,000,000 |
| Filipinas | ₱ 36,000,000 |
| Bridal Shower | ₱ 18,000,000 |
| Gagamboy | ₱ 15,000,000 |
| Homecoming | ₱ 8,000,000 |
| TOTAL | ₱ 328,812,507.77 |