POE SETS MMFF HEARING ON JAN. 24

Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, will hold a public hearing on the issues surrounding the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. at the Senate Session Hall.

The Senate panel has invited key officials of the MMFF Executive Committee led by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Thomas Orbos, Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund) President Boots Anson-Roa, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chairperson Atty. Eugenio Villareal, Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Liza Diño, officials of the MMFF Selection Committee led by film critic Nicanor Tiongson, director Erik Matti and film producer Ronald Allan Monteverde, those behind the "Magic 8" films that participated in the MMFF, celebrities and other stakeholders.

The hearing will tackle Sen. Vicente Sotto III's Senate Resolution No. 257 recommending the creation of a film festival exclusively for independent films during the semestral break. The hearing is also called to determine how to further support the local film industry through much-needed legislation.

Poe said the hearing will also review the performance of the previous film festival, as well as determine whether or not the intention of helping those behind the camera--as part of the proceeds from the MMFF goes to intended beneficiaries--is being achieved.

"Mahalagang pakinggan natin ang panig ng bawat isa upang matulungan ang industriyang nagbibigay sa atin ng karangalan at ligaya na minsan ay lungkot na may kurot sa puso. Layon nating mas patatagin at payabungin pa ang pelikulang Pilipino," said Poe.

The MMFF, first called the Metropolitan Film Festival, was created in 1975 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1459 "in recognition of the value and importance of the local movie industry in the overall developmental effort for the country, a fitting celebration to encourage quality film production both in substance and in form, as well as provide incentives to the performing artists and the technicians in the industry."

Part of the proceeds from the MMFF go to the Mowelfund, a foundation established in 1974 to provide aid to movie workers, FDCP, Film Academy of the Philippines, Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council and the Optical Media Board.