Regal Films matriarch Lily Monteverde ruffled some feathers when she said the Christmas season is not the time for independent movies.
As you may recall, Mother Lily’s movie Mano Po 7: Tsinoy was not included as an official entry in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Seven out of the eight official entries of the MMFF are independent movies, or films produced by independent movie producers. Only one, Kath & Vince & James from Star Cinema, is by a major movie outfit.
READ: What? No Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival?
To this, Mother Lily said she hopes the MMFF “will be changed” next year. Take note: the MMFF was already revamped earlier this year, with producers having to submit finished films for consideration instead of just screenplays.
She added, saying that the MMFF is traditionally for children and families, “There is a time for the indie movie. But not Christmas season. Christmas is for the family.”
Naturally, not everyone was happy with her statement.
Mercedes Cabral, star of the 2016 MMFF entry Oro, did not take kindly to her statement.
“Nakakaawa ang mga bata??? Sabihin mo lang e ang habol mo lang e kita ng pelikula mo,” she wrote in a Facebook post, as reported by PEP.
(Pity the children? Just say you’re after the box office returns of your movie.)
She also said: “At kayo lang ba ang may karapatan magpalabas ng pelikula tuwing pasko? F***ing idiot.”
(And are you the only one who has the right to release a movie during Christmas? F***ing idiot.)
Erik Matti, director of the 2016 MMFF entry Seklusyon, also took to Facebook, asking naysayers to give independent films a chance.
READ: Regal Films’ Mother Lily amid MMFF snub: Christmas season is not the time for indie movies
“Ang indie at mainstream ay parehong pelikula rin lang at wag na po ihiwalay sa isa’t isa. Ang indie, tulad ng mainstream, ay pwedeng malalim o mababaw, matalino o stupido, nakakatawa o nakakaiyak, commercial o artistic, pambata o pangmatanda o panghugot, cheap o big budget. Pareho pong pelikula yan,” he wrote.
(Indie and mainstream movies are the same. An indie movie, just like a mainstream movie, can be deep or shallow, smart or dumb, funny or sad, commercial or artistic, for children or for adults, cheap or big budget. They’re both movies.)
Erik added people should watch the MMFF entries this year and give them a chance before judging them.
Why can’t we just support each other and get along, guys?
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