Senate panel sets hearing on proposed ‘indie MMFF’

Senate panel sets hearing on proposed ‘indie MMFF’ (Photo: Senator Grace Poe/Facebook)

MANILA, Jan. 20—The Senate panel hearing on a proposed resolution which eyes the creation of a film festival exclusively for independent films will take place on January 24.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, said the hearing will tackle Sen. Vicente Sotto III’s Senate Resolution No. 257 recommending the creation of a film festival exclusively for independent films during the semestral break.

The hearing is also meant to determine how to further support the local film industry through much-needed legislation.

It will also review the performance of the previous film festival and whether proceeds from the MMFF went to intended beneficiaries.

Key officials of the MMFF Executive Committee invited to the hearing include Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Thomas Orbos, Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund) President Boots Anson-Roa, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chairperson Atty. Eugenio Villareal, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Liza Diño, officials of the MMFF Selection Committee led by film critic Nicanor Tiongson, director Erik Matti and film producer Ronald Allan Monteverde, those behind the “Magic 8” films that participated in the MMFF, celebrities and other stakeholders.

The MMFF, first called the Metropolitan Film Festival, was created in 1975 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1459 “in recognition of the value and importance of the local movie industry in the overall developmental effort for the country, a fitting celebration to encourage quality film production both in substance and in form, as well as provide incentives to the performing artists and the technicians in the industry.”

Part of the proceeds from the MMFF go to the Mowelfund, a foundation established in 1974 to provide aid to movie workers, FDCP, Film Academy of the Philippines, Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council and the Optical Media Board.

Sotto filed his resolution after films produced by independent companies dominated MMFF 2016 which also meant the absence of mainstream favorites including Enteng Kabisote 10 and the Abangers, a movie which stars his brother, actor Vic Sotto

He lamented that the absence of mainstream films was “prejudicial” to regular MMFF moviegoers particularly children.