In 2010, the film festival had undergone some changes. One change is that the festival format will give a tribute to independent "indie" films. For the first time in the 36 editions of the Metro Manila Film Festival, it paid tribute to the independent filmmakers in the country by featuring five indie films in addition to the eight mainstream movie entries in the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival.[1]
In September 2011, Atty. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) changed the category name of "Indie" films to "New Wave" films to make it sound better and more attractive to hear, as well as including "Student Short Film Category" for the first time.[2] The New Wave category starts during the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival in 2011.[3]
In 2016, they announced that there would no longer be a distinction made between "mainstream" and "indie" films in the MMFF and the New Wave Category was dissolved.[4]