No everyone is happy with the revamped Metro Manila Film Festival.
Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde said she hopes the entire MMFF will be changed after this year.
This is after the annual Christmas film fest snubbed mainstream movies and popular movie franchises to chose mostly independent movies as part of the 2016 MMFF.
Mother Lily’s own Mano Po 7: Tsinoy was not chosen as one of the eight entries of this year’s MMFF.
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“Let’s hope next year, the entire film fest will be changed,” Mother Lily said during the press conference for Mano Po 7 on Tue, Nov 22.
She added: “There is a time for the indie movie. But not Christmas season. Christmas is for the family.”
Mother Lily also said, explaining that the MMFF is traditional for children: “Sana naman (I hope), after this year, they should understand. It’s not that I’m teaching them, it’s something that… all these poor people, like (class) C, D, E… meron silang bonus (they have bonuss). Once they get their bonus, they bring the whole family to the movies to watch.”
Mano Po 7: Tsinoy is set to open in theaters on Dec 14, 10 days before the 2016 MMFF. Mother Lily hopes the movie can still extend its run after the film fest.
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Although she felt sad about the exclusion, Mother Lily said she has nothing against independent films, saying acclaimed independent directors such as Lav Diaz and Jeffrey Jeturian got their start with Regal Films.
“Of course, I feel so sad. When I heard about it, talagang umiyak ako (I really cried). Quietly I cried. But it’s there already, wala na tayong magagawa (we can’t do anything about it anymore),” she said.
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