Movie producer was sanctioned, not entire crew – MMFF official

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), through its spokesperson, explained its jurors' decision to disqualify "Honor Thy Father" from the Best Picture Category during Monday night's broadcast of GMA News TV's "State of The Nation with Jessica Soho".

 

MMFF organizers said that the movie was disqualified because producers failed to disclose that the film had previously been shown at the Cinema One Originals Festival 2015.

 

Marichu Maceda added that the organizers initially did not want to accept the film because it had been already shown at the Toronto Film Festival. The organizers, however at that point, were lenient and approved the entry.  

 

However, the film was discussed again during the jurors' preview held last December 21.

 

 

During these discussions, Maceda said that some members wanted the film disqualified from all awards.

 

Others argued that it was only the producer who violated the MMFF policy. The director, cast and all the other technical people had nothing to do with the alleged violation, so the sanction should be against the producer.

 

"For us we meant, they (producers) should be disqualified from the Best Picture category," Maceda added.

 

The MMFF organizers are also open to the suggestion that the incident be investigated by the House of Representatives. — BAP/DVM/KG, GMA News