# 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival

The 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival was an iteration of the annual Summer Metro Manila Film Festival held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. It was organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines. The theme of the film festival would be "Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya" (lit. 'The fun continues').
The inaugural edition was supposed to be held in 2020, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 edition is now considered to be the first iteration of the film festival.
Following the organization of the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, the MMDA announced on January 9, 2023, that the summer film festival will be held from April 8 to 18, 2023. The parade of stars was scheduled to be held on April 1, 2023, while the awards night will be on April 11, 2023.
The deadline of submission for entries was set on February 17, 2023.

## Entries

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee announced the eight official entries on February 24, 2023.
| Title | Starring | Production company | Director/s | Genre |
| About Us But Not About Us | Elijah Canlas, Romnick Sarmenta | The IdeaFirst Company, Octoberian Films & Quantum Films | Jun Lana | Drama |
| Apag | Coco Martin, Lito Lapid, Gladys Reyes | Centerstage Productions, CCM Creatives | Brillante Mendoza | Drama |
| Here Comes the Groom | Eugene Domingo, Enchong Dee, Keempee de Leon, Awra Briguela, Maris Racal, KaladKaren | Quantum Films, Cineko Productions, Brightlight Productions | Chris Martinez | Comedy |
| Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko | RK Bagatsing | Saranggola Media Productions | Joven Tan | Drama, Musical |
| Love You Long Time | Carlo Aquino, Eisel Serrano | Studio Three Sixty Inc. | JP Habac | Drama |
| Single Bells | Angeline Quinto, Alex Gonzaga, Aljur Abrenica | Tincan, The Fifth Studio | Fifth Solomon | Comedy |
| Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story | Gerald Anderson, Kylie Padilla | Mavx Productions | RC Delos Reyes | Romance, Drama |
| Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko | Bela Padilla, Yoo Min-Gon | Viva Communications | Bela Padilla | Drama, Romance |

## Parade of Stars

The Parade of Stars, a motorcade of floats featuring the eight official entries, for the 2023 Summer MMFF was held in Quezon City on April 2, 2023. The route started at the Villa Beatriz along Commonwealth Avenue to the Quezon Memorial Circle.

## Awards

The Gabi ng Parangal (transl. Awards Night) of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival will be held at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City on April 11, 2023.

### Major awards

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡). Nominations are also listed if applicable.
| Best Picture | Best Director |
| About Us But Not About Us – The Ideafirst Company, Octobertrain Films & Quantum Films‡ Love You Long Time – Studio Three Sixty Inc. (2nd Best Picture) Here Comes the Groom – Quantum Films, Cineko Productions, Brightlight Productions (3rd Best Picture) | Jun Lana – About Us But Not About Us‡ JP Habac – Love You Long Time Chris Martinez – Here Comes The Groom |
| Best Actor | Best Actress |
| Romnick Sarmienta – About Us But Not About Us‡ Gerald Anderson – Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story Carlo Aquino – Love You Long Time Elijah Canlas – About Us But Not About Us Enchong Dee – Here Comes the Groom Yoo Min-gon – Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko | Gladys Reyes – Apag‡ Bela Padilla – Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko Kylie Padilla – Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story |
| Best Supporting Actor | Best Supporting Actress |
| Keempee de Leon – Here Comes the Groom‡ Aljur Abrenica – Single Bells Nico Antonio – Here Comes the Groom Ariel Rivera – Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko Xilhouette – Here Comes the Groom | KaladKaren – Here Comes the Groom‡ Ana Abad Santos – Love You Long Time Maris Racal – Here Comes the Groom |
| Best Screenplay | Best Cinematography |
| About Us But Not About Us‡ Here Comes the Groom Love You Long Time Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story | About Us But Not About Us‡ Love You Long Time Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story |
| Best Production Design | Best Editing |
| About Us But Not About Us‡ Here Comes the Groom Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko | About Us But Not About Us‡ Here Comes the Groom Love You Long Time Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko |
| Best Sound | Best Original Theme Song |
| About Us But Not About Us‡ Here Comes the Groom Love You Long Time Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko | "Paralaya" from Apag – by Andy Alviz‡ |
| Best Musical Score | Best Float |
| About Us But Not About Us‡ Love You Long Time Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko | Love You Long Time‡ About Us But Not About Us Apag Here Comes the Groom Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko Single Bells Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko |
| Special Jury Prize | |
| Elijah Canlas – About Us But Not About Us‡ Here Comes the Groom‡ | |

### Multiple awards

| Awards | Film |
| 10 | About Us But Not About Us |
| 3 | Here Comes the Groom |
| 2 | Apag |

### Multiple nominations

| Nominations | Film |
| 12 | Here Comes the Groom |
| 11 | About Us But Not About Us |
| 10 | Love You Long Time |
| 8 | Unravel: A Swiss Side Love Story |
| 7 | Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko |
| 3 | Apag |
| 2 | Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko |
| 2 | Single Bells |