Vic Sotto: MMFF overlooked Pinoys' taste in movies

While he respects the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) committee for their choices of film entries, Vic Sotto said that Filipinos' taste in films were overlooked.

Upon learning that the latest installment of "Enteng Kabisote" failed to make it to the list of entries for the annual film fest, Sotto said that he felt bad for the children who were deprived of a fun, family-oriented movie.

"Rinerespeto ko yung panlasa ng naging screening committee... Ang masakit lang para sa akin, hindi nila rinespeto yung panlasa ng manonood ng pelikulang Pilipino," Sotto said during the press conference of "Enteng Kabisote 10 & the Abangers."

"Kung ako may sama na loob, hindi para sa 'kin, kundi para sa mga bata," he added.

The MMFF, which runs from December 25 until the first week of January, favored independent films this year.

Aside from "Enteng Kabisote 10 & the Abangers," the film of actors Vice Ganda and Coco Martin, "The Super Parental Guardians" failed to make the cut as well.

Sotto said that the screening committee did not take into consideration what families and children would want to watch during the holidays.

"Alam nating lahat, pagdating ng pasko, inaabangan to ng buong pamilya, yung mga pelikulang mapapanood nila, alam nating inaabangan ng mga bata," he said.

Blessing in disguise

On the bright side, Sotto said that he will have a "normal Christmas" for the first time in years.

"For the first time in about 15 years, I will have a normal Christmas day. Dati more often than not, nasa festival eh. Pero this time, mas komportable," he said.

It is the first time that the "Enteng Kabisote" installment was excluded from the MMFF.

He will be spending his Christmas with his wife Pauleen Luna at home.

Another advantage of the revised screening date is that the film will be shown in cinemas longer than it would have if it were included in the MMFF.

"I think it's a blessing in disguise for us, for me and for Star Cinema. Kasi mas hahaba yung play date namin," he said.

"Enteng Kabisote 10 & the Abangers" will instead open in theaters on November 30. —JST, GMA News