THE Metro Manila Film Festival on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award given to the controversial film “Oro” following complaints that a dog was slaughtered in the movie.
“Without making any judgment on the artistic merit of the film or cinematic depiction, the MMFF finds the present controversy on the alleged killing of a dog in the course of the filming of the movie effectively cast doubt on the movie’s ability to exemplify the human and cultural values espoused by the late Fernando Poe Jr.,” the MMFF Executive Committee said in a statement.
The committee made its statement even as Senator Grace Poe threatened to invalidate the FPJ award given to the film “Oro” if it was true that a dog was slaughtered in the movie.
“Though I am not part of the jury that decided on the award, it is my responsibility to uphold the values of FPJ,” Poe said in reference to the late Fernando Poe Jr., her adoptive father.
Poe, former chairman of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board that classifies and reviews television programs, movies and home videos, said the former “King of Filipino Movies” would never condone an act of animal cruelty.
The MMFF Executive Committee also condemned the lie that no dog was killed in the movie.
“We would like to reiterate that the MMFF Execom takes this opportunity to strongly emphasize that it has not condoned nor will it ever condone any cruelty to animals. Neither will it allow the Festival to be the vehicle for any such actions.”
The committee came up with the move following consultation with the family of the late Fernando Poe Jr.
Meanwhile, MMFF spokesman Noel Ferrer said select SM cinemas, Robinsons, Gateway Shopping Center, Ayala Malls and other members of the National Cinema Association of the Philippines are extending the running schedule of the film festival until Jan. 7.
The eight entries in the MMFF are supposed to be shown in only 10 days or from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3.
But Ferrer said the producers of “Oro” must first submit edited scenes of the movie before it was shown during the extended period because of the complaint by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society that a dog was slaughtered in it.
Ferrer also said the MMFF had no intention to withdraw the Best Actress award given to Irma Adlawan, the lead character in the movie “Oro,” because she deserved the award and the dog issue had “no relation to her being a good performer.”
Another animal rights organization asked the MMFF organizers to revoke the awards to “Oro” and to stop its showing.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed there were witnesses who took part in the production and confirmed that the controversial scene showing a dog being slaughtered was real.