Regal Releases "Official Statement" Regarding Disqualification of "Yesterday Today Tomorrow" in 4 Award Categories

Yesterday Today Tomorrow, Regal Entertainment's entry to the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), was disqualified from four major award categories due to violations. (Click here for related article.)

According the Francis Tolentino, chairman of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Regal changed the story from what was submitted and approved by the festival. They also changed the cast. Those were allegedly considered as major violations.

Regal, though, denied it in an official statement released on the evening of December 28. According to the statement, there was no major changes in the storyline. "While the script was slightly modified, this was done primarily to suit changes in the cast of which MMFF had prior notice as per REGAL’s letter dated 23 November 2011," the statement said.

More so, the movie was previewed by MMFF Execom on December 18 but they never issued any complaint with regards to the script and the cast.

"It is quite disturbing that the decision was handed out on the very same day as the awards night."

The award categories that Yesterday Today Tomorrow was disqualified from were Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and the Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award.

Regal made it clear, though, that they issued a statement "not in the expectation to win but simply to correct an unfair decision which serves no purpose but to divide an already vulnerable industry."

Read the full statement of Regal Entertainment regarding the disqualification of Yesterday Today Tomorrow in four award ceremonies.

REGAL is shocked and dismayed on MMFF’s decision to disqualify its entry: “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” to receive awards in certain categories.  The reason cited by MMFF is an alleged major deviation in the storyline.

It is quite disturbing that the decision was handed out on the very same day as the awards night REGAL was not even informed, not until yesterday (27 Dec. 2011), on any complaint by MMFF with regard to the script and the cast despite the fact that MMFF Execom previewed the entry last 18 Dec. 2011.  MMFF’s letter dated 26 Dec. 2011 merely alluded to “certain” deviation without any indication that this was considered “major” under MMFF Rules.

REGAL wants to make it clear that it committed no violation of the MMFF Rules and Regulations.  There was no major deviation in the storyline.  While the script was slightly modified, this was done primarily to suit changes in the cast of which MMFF had prior notice as per REGAL’s letter dated 23 November 2011.  The genre and essence of the film were never changed.  All the necessary elements required by MMFF that will make the final script identifiable with the one originally submitted are in tact.

The Film Festival is supposed to be an opportunity to unify the film industry.  This unfortunate event, however, mars such a beautiful endeavour and unduly limits artistic freedom which was exercised to increase the film’s box office appeal not for REGAL alone but MMFF as well.

REGAL thanks the public for continuing to support its movies and the others shown in the Festival as well.  This statement is being issued not in the expectation to win but simply to correct an unfair decision which serves no purpose but to divide an already vulnerable industry.

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