Manila Filmfest is for the masa

After a somewhat shaky kick-off, with some producers whose entries made it to the Magic 6 backing out for various reasons (couldn’t beat the deadline, etc.), the revival process of the Manila Film Festival (suspended by then Mayor Fred Lim in 1964 due to the infamous scam) is going on smoothly, to be held from June 12 to 25, with the awards night scheduled on June 24, Araw ng Maynila.

"It’s all systems go," Mayor Lito Atienza assured a dozen movie writers the other night at his favorite Japanese restaurant near the Quirino Grandstand. "Wala nang urungan, wala nang atrasan."

Here are the final (well, so far) six entries:

• Diskarte (Maverick Films), starring Rudy Fernandez and Ara Mina (directed by Boy Vinarao)

• Mama San (FLT Films), starring Elizabeth Oropesa, Barbara Milano and Janine Desiderio (directed by Joey Romero)

• Magkapatid (Viva Films), starring Sharon Cuneta, Judy Ann Santos and Christopher de Leon (directed by Joel Lamangan)

• Sweethearts (Regal Films), starring Piolo Pascual and Joyce Jimenez (directed by Maryo J. delos Reyes)

• Super B Saves the Day (Neo Films), starring Rufa Mae Quinto (directed by Joyce Bernal)

• Utang ni Tatang (World Arts Cinema), starring Joel Torre, Jeffrey Quizon, Mylene Dizon and Ronnie Lazaro (directed by Jon Red)

There. Take your pick.

"It will be a different kind of filmfest," said Mayor Lito. "It’s a filmfest for the masa. Manilans will be directly involved in the event."

The six entries will be shown in 54 theaters all over Manila, covering six districts, simultaneously in Metro Iloilo, Cebu and Davao. Moviegoers will actually participate in choosing the winners in various categories (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, etc.), comprising 50 percent of the total score, with the remaining 50 percent coming from the board of jurors (headed by Mayor Lito himself, with two members from the City Council, one from the Actors Guild, one from the talent managers’ group, two from the producers’ ranks and two from the theater-owners group).

There will be six premiere nights, one for each of the six entries, to be held in six different districts. Side events include a Flores de Mayo (featuring the stars of the six entries), Day with the Stars (with stars of the six entries to be distributed among the six districts) and a motorcade or float parade which will snake in and out of Manila’s thoroughfares.

"That’s why we’re calling the awards night People’s Choice Awards dahil kasali ang publiko sa pagpili ng mga mananalo," said Mayor Lito. "I believe in the film industry, that’s why I’m doing my share in helping it. If the producers want to shoot some scenes in and around Manila, they are free to do so anytime."

The incentives include P100,000 each for the scriptwriters of the six entries, P1 million for each of the six producers (upon submission of completed material), P500,000 for the Best Picture winner and a projected P12 to 15 million in amusement-tax exemption to be equally divided among the producers of the six entries.

The revival of the Manila Filmfest, forerunner of the annual Metro Manila Filmfest held every December since 1975, has been drawing genuine interest not only among film enthusiasts here but also those abroad, including Funfare’s Toronto-based "international correspondent" Ferdinand Lapuz who sent the following reaction:

Hi Ricky,

I am writing you this time because I am very upset with the film selection of the supposed-to-be very prestigious Manila Film Festival this coming June. I was very much impressed with the early press releases that the committee will consider prestigious projects over commercial ones, but I guess this did not prevail.

When you picked your fearless forecast, your own line-up was very impressive, including films by veteran and reputable directors Joel Lamangan (Magkapatid), Maryo J. delos Reyes (Magico Magnifico), Jose Javier Reyes (Paraisong Parisukat), Gil M. Portes (Munting Tinig) and Mel Chionglo (Hanggang Saan). I would add to this list, director Jeffrey Jeturian (City Boy).

This could have been a dream festival. If this line-up pushes through, the Manila Film Festival could have been dubbed as the "Festival of Festivals."

Another reason why I am so furious is because of the early press releases. I have advised Steve Gravestock (programmer for Asian movies in the Toronto International Film Festival) about this Filipino dream film festival. Steve replaced Noah Cowan this year. Noah is focusing on his New York-based film distribution company, Cowboy Films.

Steve had difficulty getting a flight to Manila this spring so he wants to go there in June to watch the entries in the MFF. I was very proud in telling him that the June festival is going to represent the cream of the crop of Filipino Cinema for this year. So when the films selected were released, I sent the films’ titles to Steve and his only comment was "Ouch". Anyway, Steve is heading for Manila this June to pick the Filipino movies for Toronto this year.