Legends say we still haven’t moved on from Metro Manila Film Festival 2016’s lineup—and that’s absolutely true.

For once, we didn’t get any commercial cash cows, recycled plots and another addition to the “Enteng Kabisote” cinematic universe. Though it looked like a blip for some, that era’s legacy remains for many fans of Philippine cinema. Who wouldn’t love unique stories and diverse genres?

So, will history repeat itself this year? Not to jinx anything, but we have to admit: This year’s roster looks pretty interesting.

Folks of the Twitterverse all agree, and the top keyword “MMFF” on the trending list proves it. From Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, the festival will premiere online via Upstream and GMovies. “Ngayong taong ito, hindi kagaya ng mga nakaraang taon. Tayo ay may problema sa pandemya kung saan ang ating mga cinemas ay hindi pwedeng mag-operate at full capacity. Pero hindi ’yan sapat na dahilan para itigil natin ang MMFF,” says MMFF chair Danny Lim.

(This year is not the same as the recent years. We’re experiencing a pandemic that caused our cinemas to stop operating at full capacity. But that’s not enough reason to cancel MMFF.)

We have absolutely no choice but to stan. ?

Fan Girl is an official entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, happening on December 25! Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming weeks. ? #FanGirl4MMFF pic.twitter.com/BwTwmq6oXR

— Black Sheep (@Black_SheepPH) November 24, 2020

One of the entries we’re pumped to see is Antoinette Jadaone’s “Fan Girl,” which follows a Paulo Avelino fangirl who discovers the truth behind his idol after riding in the back of his truck. “Our ‘idols’ are humans who also go through the same problems like the rest of us,” Charlie Dizon, who plays Jane, tells us in an interview.

Also in the pool is a (boys love) film about fate and faith called “The Boy Foretold by the Stars,” and an adventure/fantasy film “Magikland,” which aims to pay homage to director Peque Gallaga’s legacy. A coming-of-age story, BL movie and a promising fantasy film in an MMFF lineup? Unbelievable.

We’ve been saying this over and over, but it’s time to uplift quality films and give them a platform. Both the audience and Filipino storytellers deserve much, much better.

See the full list of films here:

Congratulations to the 10 finalists that will be on the year’s Metro Manila Film Festival!

Tuloy ang MMFF para sa lahat ng Pilipino, exclusively on #UPSTREAM this December 25, 2020. #MMFFonUPSTREAM

For updates on the latest content drops, go to https://t.co/xrZQEYECJJ! pic.twitter.com/LRAPe0BQvX

— UPSTREAM (@UPSTREAMph) November 24, 2020