House resolution seeks probe on ‘Honor Thy Father’ DQ from MMFF Best Picture

A resolution filed at the House of Representatives is seeking to probe the disqualification of Erik Matti’s film “Honor Thy Father” from the Best Picture race in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

In House Resolution 2581, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who was part of the film’s cast, directed the MMFF committee to investigate “Honor Thy Father’s” disqualification from the category for the film’s supposed non-disclosure of its participation in another film festival.

“BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives, to direct the Committee on Metro Manila Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the disqualification of the film entry ‘Honor Thy Father’ from the selection of the Best Picture Category of the MMFF 2015 Awards,” the resolution read.

READ: MMFF disqualifies ‘Honor Thy Father’ from best picture category | Erik Matti’s ‘Honor Thy Father’ opens Cinema One Originals 2015

“Honor Thy Father” was featured as opening film during the Cinema One Originals Film Festival on Nov. 8.

Fernandez acknowledged that film producer Stephen Monteverde informed the MMFF executive committee about “Honor Thy Father’s” appearance in the Cinema One festival.

“WHEREAS, Mr. Monteverde complied with the MMFF Executive Committee request to submit a sworn statement by Cinema One head, Mr. Ronald Arguelles, attesting to the fact that the screening did not generate revenues and was a By Invitation event only,” he said.

Maintaining that “Honor Thy Father” did not violate any festival rule, Monteverde on Saturday said his camp was not given due process when the film was disqualified without being given the opportunity to air their side.

READ: ‘Honor Thy Father’ producer questions timing of disqualification | MMFF: We could’ve imposed stiffer sanctions to ‘Honor Thy Father’

But the MMFF executive committee on Sunday said disqualifying the film only from the Best Picture category was the “lightest sanction” they could impose, noting that Monteverde’s supposedly late letter of notice did not give them enough time to deliberate on the issue.

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