MMDA head not afraid of House probe of MMFF controversy

BEST float winner, “Buy Now, Die Later” Eloisa Lopez

“We will answer it. We are not afraid of any investigation that may be conducted by anybody or any institution.”

This was the reaction of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Emerson Carlos on House Resolution No. 2581 filed by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez asking Congress to investigate the disqualification of his film, “Honor Thy Father,” from competing in the best picture category of the ongoing 41st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

“Walang personalan. Walang pulitika. (Nothing personal. No politicking.) It was a  painful decision for us, but we had to do it to send a message across. We’re just upholding the rule of law so that there will be fair treatment among all the entries,” the MMDA chief told reporters on Sunday shortly before the 2015 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal held at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

Carlos explained the MMFF executive committee (execom) had decided to disqualify the film from competing for failure to disclose some “material facts.”

He added that producer Ronald Stephen “Dondon” Monteverde and director Erik Matti informed the execom about their movie’s participation in the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival “on Nov. 4 or 5, but the material fact that we considered was the time they were told to come in as an official festival entry—this was either on Oct. 22 or 23. They were asked to submit certifications, which included the one that stated that the movie has not and would not participate in any film festival other than the MMFF.”

In his resolution, Fernandez said that “Honor Thy Father” was featured as the opening film of the Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival on Nov. 8.

Fernandez is one of the actors in the film directed by Matti, who eventually won the best director award.

He added that Monteverde had earlier committed to Cinema One organizers prior to receiving and accepting the offer to participate in the MMFF. He pointed out that Monteverde had informed the execom about this, and even submitted a sworn statement from Cinema One festival director Ronald Arguelles stating that the screening did not generate revenues and was merely a “by invitation” event.

Carlos, however, rejected that argument. He said: “We understand that it was not an income-generating event, but the rules specifically stated: ‘…income generating, commercial or otherwise,’ so that argument was already immaterial. We had an emergency meeting on Christmas Day and deliberated on the particular issue on Dec. 26.”

BEST supporting actor Tirso Cruz III PHOTO BY JILSON SECKLER TIU

The MMDA chief said he was aware that the timing of the release of the decision to disqualify the film was being questioned. “Pangit nga because it was the day before the awards night, but we all agreed that we had to decide because if we didn’t, then a precedent might be created by allowing this film to participate. We have to abide by the rules. The execom fears that it might come to a point when our film festival becomes a festival of reissues.”

Carlos added: “We didn’t impose the sanction on the talents, stars or director. They were still eligible for the awards. We wanted to make the message clear, and this was directed to those who committed the violation.”

Despite the controversy, Matti won the best director award. He did not attend the ceremony, but instead asked Shiel Calde, creative assistant of Reality Entertainment, to read his letter. “I’ve never made films just to win an award. If I have complaints against the MMFF, it’s not about the movie’s disqualification… My disappointment with the MMFF is far deeper than that—from the process of choosing the finalists up, to how the execom seemed to have tolerated the deplorable treatment of some theater owners to other movie entries, especially those of  less influential producers.”

Matti said the issue was no longer about his film, but “the whole film industry.”

Carlos said that during the deliberations, three options were considered: 1) For the film to be pulled out from the theaters; 2) For it to be shown but disqualified from competing in all the award categories; and 3) To merely disqualify it from the selection of the best picture category.

“We chose the third option, because we wanted fair treatment. It wasn’t the fault of everyone who worked on the movie, but only of a few,” Carlos stressed.

BEST story winner, Dan Villegas

The audience was expecting Tirso Cruz III to address the issue when he went up onstage to accept his best supporting actor award for “Honor Thy Father,” but he did not.

It was producer Josabeth Alonso, who received the second best picture award for “Buy Now, Die Later,” who dared to comment on the issue.

“This is a joyous moment, but we’re not that happy,” Alonso said, adding that the people behind “Honor Thy Father” “have created an outstanding film. We congratulate them for not stopping to dream… Like them, we should all keep trying and hoping (for the best for the industry).” She also asked people to view all of the eight film entries.

Offstage, Dan Villegas, whose film “#WalangForever” won  best picture,” said “Honor Thy Father” was “one of the best local films I’ve seen this year. It would really depend on the jury, but I think it would have been a strong contender for best picture if it wasn’t disqualified.”

When asked what he considered the secret of his success as a filmmaker, Villegas, who shared the best story award with girlfriend Antoinette Jadaone, said: “I just try to make a film as truthful as possible. I’m  thankful that the audience like the flavor that I offer!”

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