MMDA chair Emerson Carlos (center) with MMFF execom members Wilson Tieng (left) and Boots Anson-Roa (second from right), and event hosts Iza Calzado (second from left) and Epy Quizon (right)
The new selection criteria for the 2016 official entries in the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), introducing “a value system shift (away) from box-office consideration,” have been approved.
Commercial viability, which used to be 50 percent of the criteria, would no longer be a consideration.
The new selection criteria for MMFF official entries are: story, audience appeal and overall impact, 40 percent; cinematic attributes and technical excellence, 40 percent; global appeal, 10 percent, and Filipino sensibility, 10 percent.
Aside from commercial viability, the old selection criteria included: production or technical excellence, 40 percent; and cultural and historical value, 10 percent.
Another major change in this year’s MMFF is the submission of “finished films” and not scripts, said Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Emerson Carlos at the recent media launch, titled “#Reelvolution.”
The MMDA is the organizer of the annual fete, which will be held from Dec. 25, 2016, to Jan. 7, 2017.
Carlos said there will now be two types of competition: the Full-length Film section and the Short Film section, which will both feature eight movies. These entries must not be shown commercially or in any film festival prior to their submission to the MMFF. A nine-member competition committee will select the official entries.
The deadline for submission of short films is on Oct. 19 and the finalists will be announced on Oct. 27.
Those interested in submitting full-length features should first send a letter of intent on or before July 8. The deadline for submission for this section is on Oct. 31 and the finalists will be announced on Nov. 10.
Carlos further disclosed that there will no longer be a distinction between mainstream and independently produced films. The previous MMFF featured the Main Competition and the New Wave categories.
There will be no more cash prizes for the winners, the MMDA chief said, adding that winners will just receive “the prestigious trophies that we would be giving away during the awards ceremony on Jan. 8.”
The two-week fest will culminate in the Gabi ng Parangal, “which would now be at the tail end of the festival to avoid unduly influencing audiences in their viewing choices.”
The best child actor award was also scrapped to give way to the MMFF Children’s Choice Award, which was designed to encourage filmmakers to create works geared for younger audiences of ages 9 to 12 years.
The MMFF also launched the logo design and theme song contest, which will set the mood for the entire festival.
Composers Jimmy Bondoc, Jerrold Tarog and Robert Rivera will select the winning piece. Submission of entries is from July 15 to Aug. 15. The winner will be announced on Sept. 15.
Carlos said the 2015 MMFF controversy resulting in a congressional hearing had “prompted the revision of the festival’s guidelines.”
He was referring to the disqualification of Erik Matti’s action-drama “Honor Thy Father” in the best picture category.
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph