GMA Pictures follows two straight MMFF hits with a fantasy-drama scripted by veteran screenwriter Ricky Lee — a genre departure the studio’s own president admits comes with real pressure to match.

“Amir” is one of the first four entries confirmed for the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival, announced July 7 alongside “2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “Haunted Carnival,” and “The Greatest Showdown.” It’s a GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs, and Brightburn Entertainment production, directed by Zig Dulay, whose short “The Other Side of Reality” has already screened internationally and had its Philippine big-screen premiere this September in CinePanalo 2026’s new Panorama Shorts section.

The Story, From Amir’s Own Eyes

“Amir” is a fantasy-drama told from its title character’s point of view, moving into a world of imagination instead of straight realism. That’s a genre departure from GMA’s recent MMFF entries. Argus Aspiras plays Amir, alongside Dennis Trillo, Glaiza de Castro, and Will Ashley, with Caprice Cayetano and Heath Jornales also in the cast.

Ricky Lee’s Screenplay

The screenplay comes from Ricky Lee, one of Philippine cinema’s most decorated and prolific screenwriters across five decades of work, co-written with Anj Atienza, from a story by Ian Simbulan. Alongside his own writing, Lee has mentored generations of the industry’s working screenwriters.

Following Firefly and Green Bones

Dulay also directed GMA’s last two MMFF entries, “Firefly” (2023) and “Green Bones” (2024), which earned him back-to-back Best Director nominations. GMA Pictures president Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes was candid about the pressure that record creates: “Medyo nakakakaba kasi galing tayo sa Firefly and then Green Bones so ‘yung ine-expect talaga ng tao” (“It’s a little nerve-wracking, coming off Firefly and then Green Bones, because of what people are really expecting”). Glaiza de Castro described the tonal jump in similar terms, calling the project exciting specifically because it’s fantasy, coming off the heavier material of her previous work: “Medyo mabigat pero galing ‘to sa point of view ni Amir” (“It’s a little heavy, but this one comes from Amir’s own point of view”).

Where and When

“Amir” opens December 25, 2026, as part of the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival’s official lineup, with cinema tickets capped at ₱299 for the festival period.

Part of ElysPlanet’s ongoing MMFF 2026 coverage — updated as new entries are confirmed.