APART FROM THE USUAL FRANCHISE flicks, this year?s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will offer a 3D animated film and a historical romance drama as well.

?We tried to come up with a balanced lineup,? said Corazon B. Cruz, chair of the MMFF screening committee.

It?s also a star-studded festival, with entries headlined by Vic Sotto and Bong Revilla, Ai Ai de las Alas, Kris Aquino, Marian Rivera and Dolphy.

Tried-and-tested franchises are represented by three entries. Revilla?s agimat series is combined with Sotto?s Enteng Kabisote franchise in the action-fantasy ?Ang Agimat ni Enteng,? produced by Imus, M-Zet, OctoArts and GMA Films.

Star Cinema is fielding the third installment of the De las Alas comedy, ?Ang Tanging Ina Mo Rin (Last na ?To).?

Regal Entertainment has come up with the 12th edition of the ?Shake, Rattle & Roll? horror trilogy, with current ?It? girls Shaina Magdayao, Andi Eigenmann and Carla Abellana.

Star Cinema and Ambient Media?s animated fantasy ?RPG? is the first 3D animated film, according to Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos, and will feature the voices of child stars Zaijan ?Santino? Jaranilla and Mika de la Cruz as well as top actors Eugene Domingo and Aga Muhlach.

Cinemabuhay?s historical romance drama ?Rosario,? which depicts a celebrated adultery case in the 1920s, top-bills Jennylyn Mercado, Dennis Trillo, Yul Servo and Isabel Oli.

Also in the lineup is Cinemedia?s suspense-thriller ?Dalaw,? with Aquino, Coco Martin and Diether Ocampo.

King of Comedy Dolphy has an entry again this year after last year?s ?Nobody, Nobody But Juan.? The ace comedian has entered ?Father Jejemon,? which tells the story of an unconventional priest quarreling with a rural warlord.

Like Star Cinema, Regal has a second entry, the fantasy ?Super Inday and the Magic Bibe.? Based on Maricel Soriano?s ?Inday? movies in the 1980s, this latest version stars Rivera, Jake Cuenca, Vice Ganda, among others.

This year, the three TV networks, through their film outfits Star Cinema, GMA Films, and Cinemabuhay (TV5), have fielded entries.

The MMFF, now on its 36th year, is the only event where Filipino local films are shown exclusively in local theaters for two weeks from December to January.