MANILA – Erik Matti hopes the wheels of justice will finally turn in favor of “Honor Thy Father”. A hearing has been set on January 11, at 1 p.m.–after a resolution for an investigation was filed by Dan Fernandez, a representative from Laguna who also happens to be a cast member from the film.
“I didn’t know that this probe will happen so soon.” the respected director posted last Tuesday on Facebook, with an image of the announcement/agenda of the hearing included in the post.
Despite winning the Best Director plum at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Matti was vocal in expressing his disappointment at the film being unceremoniously taken out of the Best Picture race without due process last December 26. Producer Dondon Monteverde only received notice of the disqualification a day before the MMFF awarding ceremony at the AFP Theater at Camp Aguinaldo.
Trending over the holidays with the hashtag #mmff2015scandal, it wasn’t long before other industry professionals chimed in their tales of woe, such as limited theaters, ticket swapping, and monopolized cinemas.
In a Facebook post, Matti expressed his New Year’s wish: “May we all not settle for what this country could only give us and fight for what we truly deserve for ourselves… Let no one in 2016 look down on you, take advantage of you and treat you as dumb only because they know very well that you will just be silent for the sake of peace and sobriety. Remember, God will not always be there for all mankind.”
