First Manila Film Festival

The First  Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) was held in the 1,500 seat  Far Eastern University Cinema Theater, on September 26 to 28, 1956. Spearheaded by Onofre D. Corpuz, then president of the University of the Philippines, 14 countries participated in the first MIFF.

The most popular entries were:

For­bidden   Games  (Fren manilch),   

Umberto D (Italian),  

The Rats (German), 

Rasho-mon (Japanese), 

Edad Deficil (Argenti­nian), 

Anak Dalita (Philippine guest entry) and 

Father Panchali (Indian). 

The grand award went to the Indian film­maker Satjahit Ray for his Pather pancha­li.