Authorities are going after 54 people caught illegally streaming, downloading and distributing movies of the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival.
On Tuesday, Anti-Piracy Task Force agents conducted separate operations in Manila and Quezon City and arrested four people for piracy.
The four were among the 54 people indicted for video piracy, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the organizer of the annual festival.
In a statement, the MMDA praised the Optical Media Board led by its chairman, Christian Natividad, for their swift action in going after the violators. It said it would keep on working with the members of the task force to make sure violators were caught and brought to justice.
The 10 official entries are Magikland, Coming Home, The Missing, Tagpuan, Isa Pang Bahaghari, Suarez, the Healing Priest, Mang Kepweng, Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim, Pakboys Takusa, The Boy Foretold by the Stars and Fan Girl.
All entries can be watched exclusively via Upstream.ph.
The MMFF is an annual event held every Christmas and organized primarily to promote Philippine cinema. The proceeds from the film festival go to a number of beneficiaries in the film industry.
The beneficiaries include the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc., Motion Picture and Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Development Council of the Philippines and the Optical Media Board.