- Senators Grace Poe led a Senate inquiry regarding MMFF2016 results.
- Senator Sotto filed a resolution to have a separate film festival for indie films.
- MMDA released MMFF 2017’s 1st 4 official entries.
Last Friday, June 30, MMDA released the first 4 official entries to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival. Compared to the last year’s line-up, the four films were comprised of the commercial formula films which were constants box office getter.
Included in the first four official entries are “Ang Panday” with Coco Martin, “Almost Not Enough” with Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales, “The Revengers” with Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla and Pia Wurtzbach and “Love Traps” with Dawn Zulueta and Vic Sotto.
In a statement, MMDA said this year’s selection committee decided to have a 2-part selection process, one is for the script/story based selection where the 1st four were chosen and the 2nd part will be for the full length finished film selection where the next 4 films will be picked.
Apparently, last January 2017, Senator Grace Poe through the resolution of Senator Tito Sotto, opened a Senate inquiry regarding MMFF 2016 selection process.
Sotto insists that the 2016 selection committee erred in disqualifying the formula films which were constant box office getter. He told the committee that the selection committee’s decision to change MMFF 2016’s criteria “was prejudicial to the regular MMFF moviegoers, particularly the children who always look forward to these movies to bond, enjoy, be entertained and share a good laugh with their family and friends.”
Sen. Sotto questioned the exclusion of his brother Vic Sotto’s film in the official list of MMFF 2016 entries along with other box-office getters like Vice Ganda.
Meanwhile, Sen. Poe noted the appeal of Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda movies to the public especially on Christmas day when MMFF films are being shown.
“Let’s also not forget that the public has the right to choose what they want to watch. We should also take into consideration what is the true appeal to the public of movies of Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda. ‘Wag nating kalimutan na may mga bata ring bahagi ng Pasko,” said Sen. Poe.
Senator Grace Poe is the daughter of Fernando Poe Jr, a known action, film producer and director whose “Panday” film franchise has always been considered as a shoe-in official entry to the MMFF.
This recent development in the MMFF’s film selection process didn’t sit well with many film critics and netizens. The next day after the announcement of the 4 films, 3 members of the MMFF selection committee and Executive Committee Rolanda Tolentino, Ricky Lee and Kara Magsanoc Alikpala resigned from their position as a sign of protest.
One netizen, Chuck Guttierez also noted the connection of Senators Poe and Sotto with the recent MMFF decision to include the commercial/formula films.
On his Facebook post, Guttierez said Poe and Sotto conducted Senate investigation to ‘improve’ MMFF. And the result, Panday and Vic Sotto film are back on MMFF 2017.
“Last January, Grace Poe & Tito Sotto called for a Senate hearing to “improve” MMFF. Today, Panday & Enteng are back on MMFF 2017. Go connect the dots!” he wrote.
