The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) chose unpopular movies with poor box office performance as big winners in this year’s edition of the festival awards night held on Sunday at the Kia Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.
The overwhelming winner, with six MMFF trophies – Best Screenplay, Best Original Story, Best Film and Best Actress and Best Actor for Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales, respectively – was Walang Forever, a rom-com from Quantum Films. It also won the FPJ Memorial Award for Film Excellence with a take home cash prize of P400,000.00.
Honor Thy Father and Nilalang, which we can hardly see in the movie houses because they were pulled out to give way to blockbusters My Bebe Love: #Kilig Pa More and Beauty and the Bestie, walked home with five recognitions each.
Amid being the biggest bomb in MMFF 2015, Nilalang, an action horror top-billed by Cesar Montano and Japanese adult film star Maria Ozawa, won most of the technical awards including Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Musical Score, Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography.
Meanwhile, the John Lloyd Cruz starrer Honor Thy Father bagged the festival’s trophies for Best Make-Up, Best Original Theme Song, Best Child Performer for Krystal Brimner, Best Supporting Actor for Tirso Cruz III, and the coveted Best Director trophy for Erik Matti.
Matti was not at the venue to accept the award. His trophy was accepted by Shiel Calde of Reality Entertainment who read out the filmmaker’s prepared acceptance speech addressed to the audience and to the executive committee behind the annual film fest. The seasoned filmmaker expressed his dissatisfaction on how the MMFF was conducted this year.
“I don’t make films to win awards,” Calde said reading Matti’s message in vernacular started. “It’s no longer about Honor Thy Father being disqualified in the Best Picture category. It’s much deeper than my disappointment.”
“From choosing the type of movies that became part of the filmfest to the way you condone cinema owners’ treatment to other films particularly to small film producers, for a die-hard movie fan as I am, I can no longer recognize the film festival I once admired and respected.”
The message ended with “Hindi na ito tungkol sa Honor Thy Father. Buong industriya ng paggawa at panonood sa pelikulang Pilipino ang usapan na ‘to. Kaya, salamat na rin sa inyo, MMFF. Binuhay niyo ang pag-asa ko para sa pagbabago.”
Honor Thy Father was disqualified from the Best Picture category on Dec. 26 by the MMFF executive committee for non-disclosure of the film’s participation in another festival. But shortly after the release of the letter on the film’s disqualification from the Best Picture race, the drama film’s producer issued a statement refuting the MMFF’s allegation that they did not disclose its participation in the Cinema One Originals Festival 2015.
During the awards night, Atty. Joji Alonzo, who accepted the 2nd Best Picture award for the entry Buy Now, Die Later expressed her support for Honor Thy Father. She told the crowd, “They (Matti and Dondon Monteverde) have created an outstanding film. I commend them for continuing their advocacy in creating meaningful films that aim to touch the lives of people. Our appeal to the public, sana po huwag lang dadalawang pelikula ang panuorin niyo.”
Alonzo was referring to MMFF top-grossers My Bebe Love that won 3rd Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Maine Mendoza and Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award, and to Star Cinema-Viva Films collaboration Beauty and the Bestie, which by the way walked home empty-handed after the Gabi ng Parangal.