‘Citizen Jake’ not even considering joining ’doomed’ MMFF — Mike De Leon

Acclaimed director Mike De Leon on Tuesday declared that he and the team behind "Citizen Jake" are not interested in submitting the film to the Metro Manila Film Festival for consideration.

De Leon categorically stated that "'Citizen Jake' is not joining, better still, not even considering joining the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2017."

De Leon pointed to the "anomalous" selection process for his decision and said that "any reforms well-intentioned filmmakers may clamor for are only doomed to failure."

He added that a reliable source had hinted that his acceptance to the MMFF is already guaranteed should he decide to join. This made De Leon have doubts about the festival's criteria for selection.

"Corruption has returned in full force to this festival that purports to make children happy during the holiday season, a euphemism for profit and greed," De Leon wrote. "My film may be fiction, but it is based on truths we ignore at our own risk."

"Citizen Jake" is De Leon's first film in 18 years and is the debut movie of journalist Atom Araullo.

In July, three members of the MMFF Executive Committee resigned after the first four films included in the festival were announced.

Screenwriter Ricky Lee said that he would have wanted to stay if the changes implemented in 2016 were retained, but said, "Sa nagiging takbo ng mga pangyayari ngayon ay mukhang malabo na iyong mangyari. Kaya wala na ring dahilan para mag-stay pa ako."

Lee in a joint statement with journalist and documentary producer Kara Magsanoc Alikpala and the former Dean of the University of the Philippines' College of Mass Communication Rolando Tolentino further explained that there was "too much emphasis on commerce over art" in the MMFF. — LA, GMA News