MMFF 2016

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by whimsicalassie

by whimsicalassie

Taon-taon tuwing Kapaskuhan ay inaabangan ng mga Pilipino kung anu-ano ang mga movie entries for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival or MMFF for short.

For the last few years, madalas natin nakikita na may entry na Shake, Rattle, and Roll, A Vice Ganda comedy movie, another romantic movie na maraming hugot, then mayroon ring mga movies from not-so-well-known movie productions.

But this year, there was a 360 degree change. Almost all of them are indie movies. (For the list of films, see external link if you're using a laptop. Otherwise, google mo nalang "Rappler MMFF 2016 entries").

While I was scrolling down on my news feed, I saw this article by ABS-CBN news about Lily Monteverde, the owner of Regal Entertainment, that she was saddened by the fact that the production's latest product, Mano Po 7, is not included in MMFF. As a matter of fact, pati yung movie ni Vice Ganda and Coco hindi rin nakapasok - yung The Super Parental Guardians. Kahit si Bossing Vic Sotto, wala ring entry for this year.

Weird ba?

Sa akin, hindi? Natutuwa nga ako kasi finally, mas nagkaroon ng substance ang mga entries for the film fest. Well, nakapasok pala rito yung viral text-serye turned published book turned movie adaptation. But let's focus nalang sa mga indie films.

I think it's okay for a change. Sabi ni Lily Monteverde, according to the article, kumbaga kasi yung mga poor people daw (medyo nag-cringe pa nga ako sa term niya. Pwede namang sabihing average or below average income families. Ang offensive kasi ng term niya), itong Pasko lang nagkakaroon ng bonus. Syempre, isa sa mga gagawin ng mga pamilya eh manood ng sine at maganda yung entertaining yung papanoorin nila.

Sa isip ko naman, she had quite underestimated the general audience here. It's kind of lowkey saying na hindi maiintindihan ng tao ang ipinapalabas sa movie. Pero, sa dulo ng article, mayroon namang nag-rebuttal sa sinabi ni Mother Lily. The following is the exact quote:

In defense of the list, Dr. Nicanor Tiongson of the University of the Philippines Film Institute, the head of this year's screening committee, said: "Let us not dumb down the audience."

Tama nga naman.

I get it. The list (except doon sa isang movie) does not reflect the conventional or nakasanayang movies tuwing MMFF season. But you know, let's give these movies a chance. Let's go for a change here. Wala naman mawawala kung papanoorin mo. I'm sure naman walang mga scientific theorem or deep philosophical terms na included diyan para hindi mo maintindihan ang kwento ng movie.

What I'm trying to say, let's try to step up, Pinas. Mmkay?