All-Star Cast Assembles for MMFF 2025 Police Drama “Manila’s Finest”

The grand media conference of “Manila’s Finest,” an Official Entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025, brought the finest days of 1960s Manila to life. Held at the iconic New Frontier Theater, the venue instantly transported guests back in time with its grand production design, evoking nostalgia and the vibrant atmosphere of the era.

The event gathered an all-star ensemble, including Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, Ashtine Olviga, Dylan Menor, Ariel Rivera, and Joey Marquez, alongside Cedrick Juan, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Kiko Estrada, Paulo Angeles, Inday Fatima, and Pearl Gonzales. The mediacon opened with a dramatic grand entrance of the stars, transforming the theater into a 1960s timeline where movie icons were celebrated and placed on a pedestal.

 

Manila’s Finest is quickly gaining attention as one of the most talked-about entries of MMFF 2025. Produced by MQuest Ventures—the team behind past MMFF headliners GomBurZa and The Kingdom—and directed by Raymond Red, the first Filipino to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is a gripping police drama set in the gritty and changing Manila of 1969. Written by renowned screenwriters Moira Lang, Michiko Yamamoto, and Sherad Sanchez, the story follows Capt. Homer Magtibay (Piolo Pascual) and his trusted partner 1st Lt. Billy Ojeda (Enrique Gil) as they navigate the challenges of serving in the Manila Police District during a pivotal era.

The film goes beyond action and suspense, exploring themes of loyalty, courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood, while examining the moral choices that shaped a city struggling to hold on to its identity. “We wanted to capture Manila at a pivotal moment—beautiful, wounded, and alive. This film is about the people who kept moving, even as the city around them was changing,” shared director Raymond Red.

For his role, Piolo Pascual studied the lives of 1960s police officers to bring authenticity to Capt. Homer Magtibay, reflecting real people who served with passion. Meanwhile, Enrique Gil, on his second consecutive MMFF appearance, said the film marks a new chapter in his career, particularly with his first-ever collaboration with Piolo.

Joining them are Cedrick Juan, Rico Blanco, Ariel Rivera, Joey Marquez, Romnick Sarmenta, Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Kiko Estrada, Paulo Angeles, Ashtine Olviga, Ethan David, Dylan Menor, Inday Fatima, and Pearl Gonzales, making it a truly star-studded cast.

Watch the video below as Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, and Ashtine Olviga take viewers behind the scenes of Manila’s Finest, sharing insights into their roles and the effort that went into bringing 1969 Manila to the big screen.

 

 

Manila’s Finest hits cinemas nationwide on December 25, 2025—don’t miss the chance to experience one of the most powerful and nostalgic cinematic stories of 1960s Manila.