MMFF bans ‘Oro’ producer, director

MANILA, Philippines – The executive committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has imposed a one-year ban from joining the festival against the producers and director of the movie “Oro,” the film that sparked outrage over the actual slaughter of a dog in one of its scenes.

Barred from joining the MMFF are the film’s producers Felix Guerrero and Mark Shandii Bacolod, and director Alvin Yapan. The panel made the decision following a closed-door meeting of its members yesterday.

The ban was in response to the controversy triggered by a scene in the film where a dog was killed and eaten by some of the cast. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society condemned the movie.

A representative of the film’s crew, when asked by committee members about the scene, insisted that no animal was harmed during the filming of the movie.

However, the producers later recalled their earlier statement and admitted that a dog was indeed killed in the movie. 

“The MMFF execom found that the crew had been dishonest and did not come out with real circumstances surrounding the controversy,” it said in a statement. “The MMFF expects every participant through the whole process, including the selection, preview, and exhibition, to act with justice and observe honesty and good faith.”

The outrage was so severe that the FPJ Excellence Award given to the film, named after the late movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., was recalled due to the controversy. The movie won several awards, including Best Actress and Best Ensemble Cast Awards.