Itinuturing ng Directors' Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI) na isang paglapastangan sa movie industry ang naging hakbang ng Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) na idiskwalipika ang Honor Thy Father sa kategoryang Best Picture sa Gabi ng Parangal na ginanap nitong Linggo, December 27.
Sa inilabas na pahayag ng DGPI kagabi rin, mariin nilang kinondena ang naturang aksiyon ng MMFF Executive Committee dahil sa tingin nila, hindi nabigyan ng due process ang producers ng Honor Thy Father.
Pirmado ang naturang pahayag ni Mike Sandejas, ang presidente ng DGPI.
Narito ang kabuuan ng kanilang pahayag:
“A DISHONOR TO THE INDUSTRY.
“To the Executive Committee of The Metro Manila Film Festival 2015
“As a creative institution with goals of further improving the evolving industry of Philippine cinema, the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. condemns the disqualification of the film Honor Thy Father from the Best Picture category because we believe the film was not given its rightful due process.
“The MMFF gave a technical justification for disqualification that begs the following questions: Since MMFF already knew of the opening film screening of CinemaOne Originals, why wasn’t it disqualified early on? Or at least given notice that they could be disqualified from MMFF if they pursued the invitational screening? And why was the disqualification declared only a day before the awards night?
“There is injustice in the unfair disqualification of Honor Thy Father and this practice will continue with impunity if left unchecked. We enjoin our fellow film workers, especially those involved in the festival, to stand united and remain vigilant against all forms of injustice.
“The DGPI stands against arbitrary and unfair practices in the MMFF: we demand fair play, we demand transparency, and we demand change.”
Matatandaang nitong nakaraang December 26, isang araw bago ang Gabi ng Parangal ng MMFF, nakatanggap ng sulat ang Reality Entertainment, ang co-producer ng Honor Thy Father, mula sa pamunuan ng Metro Manila Film Festival na nagsasabing hindi na kasali ang kanilang pelikula sa kategoryang Best Picture sa awards night.
Read: Honor Thy Father disqualified from MMFF Best Picture race
Pinalagan ito ng film producer na si Dondon Monteverde dahil sumunod daw sila sa lahat ng alituntunin ng filmfest.
Read: Honor Thy Father producer cries foul over disqualification of their film for MMFF Best Picture
Pero sa inilabas naman na statement ng MMFF ExCom kahapon, pinanindigan nila ang kanilang naunang desisyon.
Read: MMFF stands by decision to disqualify Honor Thy Father from Best Picture race
Read: Honor Thy Father seeks Congressional probe into MMFF disqualification issue