PEP: MMFF Board of Jurors to trim down nominees for each category

Speaking in behalf of the MMFF Executive Committee, Boots Anson-Roa detailed the preparations being done by the board of jurors. Boots is a committee member and is the head of MOWELFUND (Movie Workers Welfare Fund). The producers have submitted the entries for review starting last Monday. The board is headed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and composed of people in various fields. The names of the members were kept secret by the Executive Committee to make the selection credible and objective. She said the committee members include a director, actor, scriptwriter, two journalists from the lifestyle and entertainment section, and a multi-awarded photographer. An innovation to the committee is the inclusion of four working-class individuals: a bus driver, a public school teacher, a student, and an OFW. “Nagpa-conduct pa si Chairman Tolentino ng special session to give these members of the board a film-appreciation session. They had two to three hours of briefing for them to guide them in their decision-making," the Boots said. Another change is, they will trim down the nominees per category to about three to five people only. “Hindi na po mangyayari ngayong awards night na walong nominees for Best Actor or Best Actress. It is not going to be the case anymore that if you are the lead actress of a movie that you are automatically nominated. “The board of jurors have decided to be more discerning in their selection," she stressed. The 36th MMFF Awards Night will be on December 26 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City. - Paul Mata, PEP