‘Nilalang’ producers appeal to MMFF: ‘Give us more screenings’

Another Metro Manila Film Fest entry makes an appeal for more screenings. "Nilalang", the action-horror movie starring Cesar Montano and former adult video star Maria Ozawa, was pulled out of 34 theaters a day after its initial screening—an act that the producers are calling deplorable.

"That we have been given only one day by the movie theater owners to let the viewing public see Nilalang is truly deplorable," their appeal read, signed by people from Welovepost, Haunted Tower Pictures, Parallax Studios and BlackOps.

"How can the movie industry prosper—as what the organizers of the MMFF is claiming to foment—if we will always limit the choices of the public, [show] bias against small producers like us and, on the whole, simply let the big players lord it over the industry?"

The movie won five awards at the MMFF, including Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Festival Sound, and Best Musical Score.

Despite this, only six theaters in Metro Manila are showing the movie:

• Gateway Cineplex 10
• Robinsons Movieworld Galleria
• SM City Manila Cinema
• SM City Sta. Mesa Cinema
• SM Megamall Cinema
• Sta. Lucia East Grandmall Cinema

However, according to a comment on the post by user Kyle Florencio, the movie is no longer being shown in Sta. Lucia.

The MMFF is also being criticized for disqualifying "Honor Thy Father" in the Best Picture category. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News