MMFF Chief Danilo Lim appoints Laurice Guillen, Nick Lizaso as new executive committee members

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and concurrent Metro Manila Film Festival Chairman Danilo Lim has appointed Laurice Guillen and Nick Lizaso as new executive committee members of the MMFF.

According to a statement by MMFF spokesperson Noel Ferrer, Guillen and Lizaso will be representing their sectors and organizations as new MMFF Execom members.

Lim said he is thrilled to announce this particular development, as he looks forward to this appointment to "set the ground for a more constructive and productive work for the MMFF Execom and assure the public that it have reached out to all the sectors to serve the best interest of the film industry."

Guillen is an award-winning director and a well-respected veteran actress. Incidentally, she was also the first Chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Guillen also currently sits as the President of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

"The appointment of Director Guillen in the MMFF execom will start a more fruitful collaboration between MMFF and Cinemalaya" Lim said.

Nick Lizaso, on the other hand, is a renowned actor, director, and producer who has been in the entertainment industry for more than 60 years.

He is currently the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and  Chair of the National Commision on Culture and the Arts.

The news came days after the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has expressed confusion over the removal of its chair, Liza Diño, from the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) executive committee.

According to reports, Lim sent a letter to Diño last Tuesday accusing her of attempting to transfer MMFF’s management from MMDA to FDCP.

In the letter addressed to Diño, Lim said that since Diño did not resign “out of delicadeza” over the issue, they had no other choice but to withdraw her membership from the committee.

FDCP said it would release a detailed statement after meeting with the MMDA.

MMFF, which usually runs in December, is managed by MMDA.

— LA, GMA News