Musings of a movie buff

Life imitating art. This seems to apply to the current imbroglio in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). In the middle of this annual film fest, one of eight movie entries was disqualified from “Best Picture” contention.

“Honor Thy Father” was found violating existing rules of the MMFF committee in the 10-day film fest. Thus, the movie was disqualified.

The MMFF committee headed by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Emerson Carlos, as overall chairman, disqualified the movie from the Best Picture award. The movie was penalized after it was found to have participated in the CinemaOne Originals Festival 2015. “Due to your non-disclosure” of this fact, the MMFF committee meted out this penalty to the movie producer and, consequently, the movie itself.

“Honor Thy Father” is described as a “dark family drama.” The story revolves around a man (played by actor John Lloyd Cruz) who takes things in his own hands after his wife’s investment business collapsed and investors run after them.

Drawing parallelism to this life imitating art is the case of Sen. Grace Poe who was disqualified from running in the May 2016 presidential elections. Poe formerly served as chairperson of the Movie & Television Review & Classification Board. Poe headed the MTRCB from July 2010 until she resigned in 2013 in order to run for the Senate.

Now eyeing the highest office of the land, Poe is waging battle against her disqualification. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) last week disqualified Poe for her failure to meet the residency and citizenship requirements under our country’s Constitution for those who aspire for the presidency. Through her lawyers though, Poe got a temporary restraining order (TRO) last Monday from the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Comelec from enforcing the disqualification.

Several other presidential candidates earlier disqualified are likewise seeking reversal of the Comelec ruling. Their appeals are pending and awaiting final verdict on their respective disqualification cases.

Movies, like any other form of art, have their own set of rules as in the case of the yearly MMFF. But their rules are apparently more lenient than the disqualification of candidates at the Comelec.

In the case of the Comelec, candidates who fail to meet basic requirements of election laws are disqualified outright as “nuisance.” Under the MMFF rule, disqualification is meted to the producer whose movie entry would not be included in the Best Picture category but can still win in other award categories.

Aside from trophies, the winners of Best Picture would get P800,000 as first prize; P550,000 for second prize; and P300,000  for third. Certainly, the amount of prizes was princely enough for producers who spent so much to do full-length movies.

So it should not be surprising if the movie producer is now raising hell against the MMFF committee. Movie colleagues have taken up the cause before the 16th Congress. Actor-turned politician Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez filed a House resolution seeking a legislative inquiry into the disqualification of “Honor Thy Father” from the Best Picture category during MMFF award’s night last Sunday.

Best Picture this year was won by “Walang Forever,” the second prize went to “Buy Now, Die Later;” and “My Bebe Love” won third.

Last December 16, we had invited MTRCB chairman Eugenio “Toto” Villareal in our Kapihan sa Manila Bay where he discussed with us the movie entries and activities lined up for the 2015 MMFF. That was a week before the start of this year’s MMFF that is traditionally marked by the parade of floats of movie entries along Roxas Boulevard.

The MTRCB chairman sits as one of the members of the MMFF organizing committee since this is the state agency in charge of screening and rating the movies – local and foreign – before they are shown in theaters. Little did Villareal expect there would be controversy in this year’s MMFF. The MTRCB though has no jurisdiction over these controversies as it did not relate to anything about the agency’s review and classification of each movie entry this year.

The MTRCB chief could only express sadness at the turn of events that marred an otherwise successful holding of this year’s MMFF. Let me share with you the sentiments of Villareal who also teaches law at Ateneo de Manila University. Here’s his take on the MMFF controversy:

“Notwithstanding its perceived limitations, the MMFF has done its share in improving the film industry – which includes not only filmmakers, actors and producers but crew, theater operators, suppliers, and even booking agents. It also institutionalizes the stake of local government units (LGUs) making up Metro Manila in the industry, the development of film being part of the general welfare each LGU is legally mandated to promote.

“That being said, and speaking more as a professor of media and entertainment law, it may be good to have a law requiring the exhibition of only Filipino films during a substantial period of the year as in other countries – to have significant impact, this should be no less than one month, with provisions for an increase in period through time. Government can give incentives such as tax breaks.

“The above should be separate and distinct from film festivals and conventions, like those held in Busan or Cannes, or like Sundance. The MMFF can be converted to this, but filmmakers and experts should be empowered to make the rules, create categories and determine winners. All other sectors, like the LGUs should only support as regards the non-creative side.

“As transition, the MMDA can enter into memorandum of agreement (MOA) with relevant government agencies and members of the private sector. Of course, this is without prejudice to any alternative arrangement provided by law. It cannot be denied though that the magnitude now enjoyed by the MMFF is to a large extent due to the support of the Metro Manila LGUs through the MMDA.

“The experience of the last few days was less than perfect. Instead of feeling discouraged, all stakeholders should take this opportunity to unite and go forward.”

I agree with his musings as a movie buff myself.