MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Executive Committee issued statement to clarify the misconceptions relating to the disqualification of Honor Thy Father (HTF) of Reality Entertainment Productions from the MMFF Best Picture Category of the MMFF 2015.
Here's the full text of the statement:
Following the pullout of the 8th entry Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli from the Festival, MMFF wrote to the producers of HTF dated October 21, 2015 informing them that they were the next-in-rank film for the Festival and requesting for a Producer’s Certification."
On October 22, 2015, the producer of the Film wrote the Executive Committee of MMFF that it has complied with all existing MMFF rules and regulations without mentioning its participation in another film festival. Having certified its compliance to all MMFF rules, it was officially included as an entry in the Film Festival on October 23, 2015.
Unknown to MMFF, HTF was slated to have an exhibition and was actually shown at the Cinema One Film Festival held on November 8, 2015. This was only officially revealed to the MMFF through their letter dated November 5, 2015, received on November 6, 2015, only two days before the showing, not giving the MMFF enough time to deliberate on the matter.
After a thorough, lengthy, and careful deliberation, the MMFF decided to impose the lightest sanction of disqualifying HTF from the selection as festival awardee for only the Best Picture category. MMFF could have imposed stiffer sanctions to the film, such as disqualification from all the awards or total disqualification from the Festival altogether.
Let it be forgotten, being included in the MMFF also comes with responsibilities. An official entry is expected to uphold and observe the Rules of the Festival.
On Saturday, a copy of letter addressed to Mr. Ronald Stephen Monteverde, producer of 'Honor Thy Father' surfaced online and has earned mixed reactions from netizens.
HTF, an Erik Matti film is a suspense crime film starring John Lloyd Cruz.
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| DISQUALIFIED? MMFF entry 'Honor Thy Father' received lightest sanction from festival committee. Photo Credit: Reality Entertainment |
Following the pullout of the 8th entry Ang Hapis at Himagsik ni Hermano Puli from the Festival, MMFF wrote to the producers of HTF dated October 21, 2015 informing them that they were the next-in-rank film for the Festival and requesting for a Producer’s Certification."
On October 22, 2015, the producer of the Film wrote the Executive Committee of MMFF that it has complied with all existing MMFF rules and regulations without mentioning its participation in another film festival. Having certified its compliance to all MMFF rules, it was officially included as an entry in the Film Festival on October 23, 2015.
Unknown to MMFF, HTF was slated to have an exhibition and was actually shown at the Cinema One Film Festival held on November 8, 2015. This was only officially revealed to the MMFF through their letter dated November 5, 2015, received on November 6, 2015, only two days before the showing, not giving the MMFF enough time to deliberate on the matter.
After a thorough, lengthy, and careful deliberation, the MMFF decided to impose the lightest sanction of disqualifying HTF from the selection as festival awardee for only the Best Picture category. MMFF could have imposed stiffer sanctions to the film, such as disqualification from all the awards or total disqualification from the Festival altogether.
Let it be forgotten, being included in the MMFF also comes with responsibilities. An official entry is expected to uphold and observe the Rules of the Festival.
On Saturday, a copy of letter addressed to Mr. Ronald Stephen Monteverde, producer of 'Honor Thy Father' surfaced online and has earned mixed reactions from netizens.
HTF, an Erik Matti film is a suspense crime film starring John Lloyd Cruz.
The winners of MMFF 2015 will be announced on Sunday night, December 27.
