The country’s most bankable stars – boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, megastar Sharon Cuneta, King of Comedy Dolphy, Kris Aquino – will lead this year’s official entries in the 35th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) that is expected to generate R500 million, this December.

Emerging from a deliberation with MMFF Executive Committee and Selection Screening Committee, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando announced the eight official entries in the 35th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this December.

Fernando, the concurrent MMFF Philippines head, said that the eight selected screenplays are the most star-studded film projects ever to be shown in the history of the MMFF.

The eight finalists, selected from 11 entries submitted to the MMFF Secretariat, are: “Ang Darling Kong Aswang” (OrtoArts Films), starring Vic Sotto; “Ikaw Na Nga” from Star Cinema with lead star Kris Aquino; “Juan” from RVQ Productions that stars Dolphy; “Mano Po 6” from Regal Entertainment starring Sharon Cuneta; another entry from Regal Entertainment and APT Production, starring Marian Rivera; “Panday” from GMA Films, Imus Productions with lead star Bong Revilla; “Shake, Rattle & Roll 11” from Regal Entertainment featuring Ruffa Gutierrez; and “Wapakman” from Solar Films starred by Manny Pacquiao and Pussycat Doll’s Nicole Scherzinger.

The three other entries reviewed by the MMFF Selection Committee were “Daniel Rapido” of FCJ Film Production, “2999 A Love Story” of Unitel, and “I Love You Goodbye” of Star Cinema.

“This year’s entries have all the critical elements that could launch a box-office hit,” Fernando said adding that the varied mix of films will be a crowd drawer in the film festival.

The eight chosen entries were judged based on the following criteria: story, creativity, writing excellence, innovativeness, thematic value and global appeal (40%), commercial viability (50%) and Filipino cultural and/or historical value (10%).

“The MMFF has been soaring to greater heights logging records in box-office attendance and imparting much-needed luster to the industry every year, a reputation earned because of the players’ constant drive for excellence and improvement,” Fernando said.

The 35th MMFF will be shown from Dec.  25  to Jan. 10, 2010. This year’s Awards Night is scheduled on Dec. 28.

Fernando conveyed his confidence that this year’s film festival will earn the targeted gross revenue of R500 million. In the 2008 MMFF, revenues reached R450 million.

Amusement taxes generated during the festival are distributed to the MMFF beneficiaries, namely the MOWELFUND, Film Academy of the Philippines, Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Development Council, Optical Media Board and the Office of the Presidential Social Fund.