Film producers eye suit vs MMFF

MANILA, Philippines – The producers of the film Honor Thy Father plan to sue the organizers of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for damages and graft after they disqualified the film from the Best Picture category based on what they described as questionable grounds.

This developed as Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez filed a resolution yesterday directing the House committee on Metro Manila development, led by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, to conduct an inquiry into the disqualification of the film, co-produced and starred by John Lloyd Cruz, as a Best Picture nominee.

Exploring options

Agnes Maranan, legal counsel for Reality Entertainment Inc. said the company is mulling suing for damages and filing charges against the top officials of the film festival, including Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos, who chairs the MMFF.

“Right now we are exploring all options, including filing a case for damages and the option of this being a graft case because (of the) undue prejudice committed against this movie and the producers by public officials. For me, that falls within the scope of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” she said in a press conference at the House of Representatives.

The film’s producers were only informed about the disqualification in a letter sent just a day before the awards night on Sunday.

Carlos, in the letter, said the MMFF executive committee disqualified the film from the Best Picture category due to its producers’ failure to disclose the movie’s participation in Cinema One Originals Festival 2015.

Ronald Monteverde said the film was earlier rejected by the MMFF but the festival’s executive committee later offered the movie a slot after an official entry pulled out.

However, by the time the MMFF panel made the offer, Monteverde had accepted the offer by Cinema One for the film to be the festival’s opening feature.

He said they duly informed the MMFF through telephone calls and emails of the film’s inclusion in the Cinema One festival.

No due process?

Fernandez, who also appeared in Honor Thy Father, filed House Resolution 2581 and slammed the lack of due process by the MMFF executive committee led by Carlos in disqualifying the film.

“I think there were loopholes in the MMFF rules that were abused and exploit to suit the profit agenda of some people,” Fernandez said.

He said he texted Carlos on Dec. 25 asking about whether or not the film will be disqualified. The lawmaker said he asked that question because of the rumors about the disqualification.

He said Carlos replied that he was “not privy to the jury (sic).” Fernandez said he felt it was impossible that Carlos, as the festival’s chairman, would not know about it.

But less than 24 hours later, Carlos sent a letter informing him of the disqualification and did not return his calls or reply to his text messages.

He also slammed Carlos for belittling the congressional investigation, saying the MMDA official was hitting the powers of the institution with his comments.

He clarified the investigation was not to retaliate but to help prevent such incident from happening in the future through the legislation of clear rules and transparency.

“I’ve heard lots of things already about some injustices that have been committed regarding this matter in the past. That’s what we want to shed light on with this investigation,” he said.

Castelo said his panel, which has oversight over the MMDA, will immediately commence its inquiry once the legislative referral process is completed.

“We will treat this as an urgent matter. The committee is authorized to launch hearings on the issue even during the holiday break,” Castelo said.