Erik Matti on MMFF critics: ‘Ang indie at mainstream ay parehong pelikula rin lang’

EJ Salut

<img src='' alt='112316-ErikMatti_PUSH.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>Erik Matti took to his Facebook to express dismay over negative comments regarding indie films dominating this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) line up. Matti’s film “Seklusyon,” which stars Dominic Roque, Ronnie Alonte and Lou Veloso to name a few, is included in MMFF’s Top 8. “Hinay hinay sa paghamak at paginsulto ng salitang INDIE na parang ito'y may ketong na dapat layuan. Ang indie at mainstream ay parehong pelikula rin lang at wag na po ihiwalay sa isa't isa. Ang indie, tulad ng mainstream, ay pwedeng malalim o mababaw, matalino o stupido, nakakatawa o nakakaiyak, commercial o artistic, pambata o pangmatanda o panghugot, cheap o big budget. Pareho pong pelikula yan,” the multi-awarded director said in his post. He also emphasized that people should give the new MMFF line up chance before they pass judgement on it. He added that all movies who wanted to be in the festival will still be shown in cinemas. “Panoorin n'yo muna ang mga pelikulang napili sa #MMFF. Merong pagbabagong naganap sa #MMFF2016. Bigyan naman natin ng chance na umubra bago husgahan. Lalabas din naman si Vice si Vic at si Chinoy kahit di nakasali e.” <center><iframe src='https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ferikmatti%2Fposts%2F10154137481211446&width=500' width='500' height='319' style='border:none;overflow:hidden' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true'></iframe></center>Matti’s post comes on the heels of Regal Film’s matriarch Lily Monteverde’s statement regarding the current changes in the MMFF, after her film “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” failed to make it to the Magic 8. “Sana naman, after this year, next year festival they should understand na yung mga poor people na nasa C, D, E, like yung carpenters and ordinary workers, meron silang bonus and once they get their bonus, they bring their whole family to the theater to watch the movies, ‘yon ang bonding nila pag Pasko, eh. But anyway, let’s hope next year the entire system will be changed,” Mother Lily said during “Mano Po 7’s” press conference last November 22. “You know, I’m not against indie movie because I was the original na gumagawa niyan, sina Lav Diaz, Jeffrey Jeturian, lahat sila. We also had a festival, do you still remember? Kung saan-saan namin dinala ang mga pelikula. But you know, there’s a time for the indie movies but not Christmas season. Christmas is for the family,” she added.

He also emphasized that people should give the new MMFF line up chance before they pass judgement on it. He added that all movies who wanted to be in the festival will still be shown in cinemas. “Panoorin n'yo muna ang mga pelikulang napili sa #MMFF. Merong pagbabagong naganap sa #MMFF2016. Bigyan naman natin ng chance na umubra bago husgahan. Lalabas din naman si Vice si Vic at si Chinoy kahit di nakasali e.” <center><iframe src='https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ferikmatti%2Fposts%2F10154137481211446&width=500' width='500' height='319' style='border:none;overflow:hidden' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true'></iframe></center>Matti’s post comes on the heels of Regal Film’s matriarch Lily Monteverde’s statement regarding the current changes in the MMFF, after her film “Mano Po 7: Chinoy” failed to make it to the Magic 8. “Sana naman, after this year, next year festival they should understand na yung mga poor people na nasa C, D, E, like yung carpenters and ordinary workers, meron silang bonus and once they get their bonus, they bring their whole family to the theater to watch the movies, ‘yon ang bonding nila pag Pasko, eh. But anyway, let’s hope next year the entire system will be changed,” Mother Lily said during “Mano Po 7’s” press conference last November 22. “You know, I’m not against indie movie because I was the original na gumagawa niyan, sina Lav Diaz, Jeffrey Jeturian, lahat sila. We also had a festival, do you still remember? Kung saan-saan namin dinala ang mga pelikula. But you know, there’s a time for the indie movies but not Christmas season. Christmas is for the family,” she added.

<img src='' alt='112316-ErikMatti_PUSH.jpg' width='400' height='290' align='left' border='0'>Erik Matti took to his Facebook to express dismay over negative comments regarding indie films dominating this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) line up. Matti’s film “Seklusyon,” which stars Dominic Roque, Ronnie Alonte and Lou Veloso to name a few, is included in MMFF’s Top 8. “Hinay hinay sa paghamak at paginsulto ng salitang INDIE na parang ito'y may ketong na dapat layuan. Ang indie at mainstream ay parehong pelikula rin lang at wag na po ihiwalay sa isa't isa. Ang indie, tulad ng mainstream, ay pwedeng malalim o mababaw, matalino o stupido, nakakatawa o nakakaiyak, commercial o artistic, pambata o pangmatanda o panghugot, cheap o big budget. Pareho pong pelikula yan,” the multi-awarded director said in his post.

The director reacts to those who keep on criticizing Metro Manila Film Festival’s choice of movies this year.

Erik Matti on MMFF critics: ‘Ang indie at mainstream ay parehong pelikula rin lang’ | PUSH.COM.PH