Ni ADOR SALUTA

PUMALAG at naghahanap ng kasagutan si Direk Erik Matti kung paano napili ng selection committee ang first four official entries sa 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), pero hindi naman daw niya kinukuwestiyon ang kalidad ng mga ito.

Nauna nang inihayag ang apat sa walong pelikulang kasali sa 2017 MMFF na ipapalabas simula Disyembre 25 hanggang unang linggo ng susunod na taon.

Klarong pahayag ni Direk Erik, “I’m not judging the four films, and I hope you put it out there, kasi marami akong makakaaway na producer. I’m not judging (the four films ) that were chosen, but I’m judging how they were selected.

“It’s the MMFF that I have a problem with and not the producers.” paglilinaw niya.

Sa loob-loob niya, may nalalaman din siya tungkol sa selection process.

“Of course, hindi ko na masabi ‘yung mga insider kong alam. Kasi ‘pag nasabi ko ‘yun, malilintikan. Pero I know what happened in the selection, diyan nanggagaling ‘yung galit ko,” himutok ng direktor.

Base sa MMFF selection committee, ang apat na pelikula, na isinumite ng big at medium-scale film companies ay napili sa pamamagitan ng script selection process.

Nitong June 30 in-announce ang unang apat na nakapasok sa MMFF 2017 Magic 8: Ang Panday (CCM Creative Productions, Inc.), Almost Is Not Enough (Quantum & MJM Productions), The Revengers (Star Cinema & Viva Films), at Love Traps #FamilyGoals (Octo Arts Films).

Naririto ang criteria sa pagpili ng Magic 8 sa MMFF 2017:

1. Forty percent for artistic excellence (Mainly, quality films)

2. Forty percent for commercial appeal (Mainly, commercial viability plus marketing plan)

3. Ten percent for Filipino cultural and/or historical value (How it reflects Filipino social realities, legends, folklore)

4. Ten percent for global appeal (Can be shown in international film fest)

Saad pa ni Direk Erik, “Wala naman akong problema, like, for example, the four entries, who knows? They may be the best scripts they’ve ever read of all that were submitted, wala lang nakakaalam, di ba?

“Ang problema kasi, it’s the same type of films, it’s the same kind of movies. I have no problem with having a film festival that’s for commercial purposes, but change your criteria, change it,” giit niya.

“Okay,” dagdag pa niya, “we only want movies that are commercial, that we feel is commercial. Wala na tayong pag-uusapan. But to hide behind the vision, which is artistic excellence, to push for cultural chuchu, global appeal, I think it’s just….”

Aniya pa, “Hindi hypocrisy, eh. Maliit ‘yung hypocrisy, eh. Medyo garapal lang.”

Sa panayam ng PEP kay Direk Erik sa HOOQ Filmmakers’ Guild press conference nitong nakaraang Lunes sa B Hotel, Quezon City, nabanggit na isa ang pelikula ni Erik Matti sa mga hindi nakapasok sa first four entries ng MMFF 2017 Magic 8.

Ito ay ang action film na Buy Bust na pinagbibidahan ni Anne Curtis. Ang Buy Bust ay co-produced ng Viva Films at Reality Entertainment.