Mother Lily cries, 'Foul!'

The annual Metro Manila Film Festival will not be the same if no controversy erupts.

This time, the issue involved the disqualification in four categories (Picture, Direction, Screenplay and the Gatpuno Award) of Regal Films’ entry, Yesterday Today Tomorrow (YTT) due to a reported violation of an MMFF rule that the finished product should conform to the screenplay submitted to the executive committee months earlier.

But Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde said that as early as Nov. 23, she sent a letter to Jessie Ejercito, 2011 MMFF executive chairman, notifying him of changes in the cast of YTT and Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 (the other Regal entry), explaining that the revision could “boost additional revenue for the MMFF.”

Last Dec. 26, Mother Lily got a letter from lawyer Nomie Ilagan, 2011 MMFF executive director, inviting her to a meeting “to clarify issues related to a certain deviation from the originally submitted script” of YTT.

On Dec. 27, Mother Lily sent a reply to lawyer Ilagan apologizing for the slight changes in YTT’s original script, since “the minor modifications were meant to conform to the structure of the film,” adding that “there is no intent to deceive, mislead and much less violate any of the Festival’s rules and regulations” and that “the lack of prior notice was solely due to oversight and inadvertence brought about by the rush in producing the film to meet the Festival’s deadlines,” reminding lawyer Ilagan that as early as Nov. 23 Regal has formally notified the MMFF about changes which did not substantially change the genre of the entry which “remained a drama movie highlighted by an earthquake scene.”

YTT stars Gabby Concepcion and Maricel Soriano.

Moviemaking is such a moveable feast that some changes do arise in the process.

“I want not only justice and fairness but a measure of respect,” said Mother Lily as she cried, “Foul!” After all, she’s one of the very, very few producers propping up the movie industry by producing non-stop even in the face of seemingly insurmountable problems (onerous taxes, film piracy, etc.). Remove Mother Lily and the industry will be considerably crippled.

“I have been in the industry for 51 years,” she added hurting, “so I need a little consideration since I didn’t really violate any rule.”

Here’s Regal’s official statement on the issue:

REGAL is shocked, dismayed, and deeply hurt by MMFF’s decision to disqualify its entry: “Yesterday Today Tomorrow” from receiving awards in certain categories.

The reason cited by MMFF is an alleged major deviation in the storyline.

It is quite disturbing that the decision was handed out on the very same day as the awards night REGAL was not even informed, not until yesterday (27 Dec. 2011), on any complaint by MMFF with regard to the script and the cast despite the fact that MMFF Execom previewed the entry last 18 Dec. 2011.

MMFF’s letter dated 26 Dec. 2011 merely alluded to “certain” deviation without any indication that this was considered “major” under MMFF Rules.

REGAL wants to make it clear that it committed no violation of the MMFF Rules and Regulations.

There was no major deviation in the storyline.

While the script was slightly modified, this was done primarily to suit changes in the cast of which MMFF had prior notice as per REGAL’s letter dated 23 November 2011.

The genre and essence of the film were never changed.

All the necessary elements required by MMFF that will make the final script identifiable with the one originally submitted are intact.

The Film Festival is supposed to be an opportunity to unify the film industry.

This unfortunate event, however, mars such a beautiful endeavour and unduly limits artistic freedom which was exercised to increase the film’s box office appeal, not for REGAL alone but MMFF as well.

REGAL thanks the public for continuing to support its movies and the others shown in the Festival as well.

This statement is being issued not in the expectation to win but simply to correct an unfair decision which serves no purpose but to divide an already vulnerable industry.

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