EXPECT A DIFFERENT Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this 2016, as the final list of entries skips the big names and old franchises usually put out by the major studios.

The Metro Manila Development Authority, which runs the annual festival, released the official list of eight full-length movies and eight short films on Friday, November 18, at Club Filipino. Organizers said the entries were judged on story, audience appeal, and overall impact (40%); cinematic attributes or technical expertise (40%); global appeal (10%); and Filipino sensibility (10%).

MMFF 2016 runs for two weeks starting December 25 through January 7, 2017. During that stretch, no other films will show in theaters nationwide. Ahead of the Christmas Day opening is the annual MMFF parade on December 23, with the awards night closing out the festival on January 8.

We’ll do our best to be your guide this festival season, watching and reviewing every film on this blog. For now, here are the trailers for the full-length and short film entries to help you decide what to watch first.

Read also: At Last! MMFF 2016 Offers Great Film Selection

Full-length entries include ‘Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough,’ ‘Saving Sally,’ ‘Die Beautiful,’ ‘Kabisera,’ ‘Oro,’ ‘Seklusyon,’ ‘Sunday Beauty Queen,’ and ‘Vince & Kath & James.’

Short film entries are ‘Birds’ by Christian Paulo Lat, ‘EJK’ by Bor Ocampo, ‘Manila Screen’ by Roque Lee & Blair Camilo, ‘Mga Bitoon sa Siyudad’ by Jarell Serencio, ‘Mitatang’ by Argin Jezer Gagui, ‘Momo’ by Avid Liongoren, ‘Passage of Life’ by Renz Vincemark Cruz & Hannah, and ‘Sitsiritsit’ by Brian Spencer Reyes.

1.) Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough
Director: Marlon Rivera
Starring: Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Khalil Ramos, and Cai Cortez

2.) Die Beautiful
Director: Jun Robles Lana
Starring: Paolo Ballesteros, Joel Torre, Gladys Reyes, Luis Alandy, Albie Casiño, Iza Calzado

3.) Kabisera
Directors: Arturo San Agustin and Real Florido
Starring: Ms. Nora Aunor, Ricky Davao, JC De Vera, Luis Alandy, Jason Abalos, RJ Agustin

4.) Oro
Director: Alvin Yapan
Starring: Irma Adlawan, Mercedes Cabral, and Joem Bascom

*As of this posting, we can’t find a trailer for ‘Oro’ yet. We’ll update this post once it’s out. Update: November 29: ORO’s trailer is now up.

5.) Saving Sally
Director: Avid Liongoren
Starring: Rhian Ramos, Enzo Marcos

6.) Seklusyon
Director: Erik Matti
Starring: Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espano, Neil Ryan Sese, Ronnie Alonte, Lou Veloso, Dominique Roque, John Vic De Guzman, JR Versales

7.) Sunday Beauty Queen
Director: Babyruth Villarama Gutierrez
Starring: Hazel Perdido, Cherrie Mae Bretana, Mylyn Jacobo, Leo Selomenio, Rudelyn Acosta

8.) Vince & Kath & James
Director: Ted Boborol
Starring: Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia, Ronnie Alonte

Which films are you catching first? Share your picks in the comments. Watch for our takes on each film in our MMFF 2016 Movie Reviews series on this link, starting December 25. Let’s compare notes.

Read also: MMFF 2015 Movie Reviews