We, film educators, media practitioners, and students of the UP Film Institute (UPFI), would like to express our concern on the recent issues surrounding the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for the year 2015. These issues, if left unresolved, will jeopardize unity among members of the film industry and erode public faith in the integrity of the festival.
The following matters should be addressed by the organizers of the festival immediately. First are the issues that emanate from what seem to be arbitrary implementation of rules and regulations by the organizers of the festival. These came about because of the disqualification of the film Honor Thy Father by Reality Entertainment from the Best Picture category, as well as moviegoers’ alleged reports of ‘ticket switching’ involving the films Beauty and the Bestie and My Bebe Love favoring the former.
Second are the issues that could taint or destroy the integrity of some committee members of the festival, such as the hasty and premature pulling out of Nilalang and Honor Thy Father from major cinemas even before the festival screenings ended; and the alleged involvement of a festival committee member in the production of Walang Forever and Buy Now, Die Later.
Third are issues related to accountability. The MMFF committee should be able to explain to the public the reason behind the reduction of festival remittances to its intended beneficiaries in spite of a continuing increase in revenues. Also, why the festival is exempted from government audit though it involves the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.
Last are the issues related to the commercialism that has characterized the festival for many years now. The original vision of the MMFF was defined by the MMFF founders thus: “the Metro Manila Film Festival is held during the Christmas Season in recognition of the role of the film industry in providing artistic depictions of both this country’s stories and history.” But a critical interrogation of the corpus of films showcased at the festival shows a bias toward “film as mere entertainment.” Rather than promoting film as a social tool that can educate the audience and help them understand their own society, culture, and history. The festival operates according to the dictates of the culture industry and capital.
UPFI calls on the MMFF organizers to take concrete, prompt, and decisive steps to resolve these issues. Further, the Institute also seeks both immediate and long-term reforms that will restore the integrity and credibility of the festival. Finally, the UPFI calls on members of the MMFF to uphold its declared vision by celebrating the best and the finest works of Filipino filmmakers. The Filipino audience deserves a cinema that truly serves the interest of the people and the nation.
This statement was originally published in the UP Film Institute website. To view the names of the signatories to the statement, please click here.
