Is it really necessary to show ONLY Filipino movies during the 2-week Manila filmfest?

This is one of those things I hate the most about Christmas in the Philippines (along with traffic and distant relatives showing up to collect their gifts).

It's this christmas-break film festival during which ALL movie theatres in Manila show only Tagalog / Filipino movies.

The Philippine movie industry know that during the christmas holidays, there is a huge increase in tickets being sold. Then all you ever get to see are the so called awards entries and at the end of the season, they have this awards ceremony which is such a self-congratulatory event.

So all this is to me is just an excuse to monopolize ticket sales during a time which is the Philippine equivalent to the summer-line up in the US.

I support tagalog movies, but forcing people to swallow it is not right I think. If they really want to compete with foreign films, then all they have to do is to ante up the quality.

Is it really necessary to show ONLY Filipino movies during the 2-week Manila filmfest?the grand theater

PT, you are so right that the whole intention is to monopolize ticket sales during this high-movie-going-season when the ordinary folks have more disposable income.

I have never really been a big fan of local movies, preferring indies to these Festival entries (actually a Mother Lily Film Festival because she and her companies and her son' and daughters' companies have entries, about 50% yata are theirs). And also, I never watch the awards nights, just like I do not watch FAMAS, Star Awards, and the showbiz talk shows.

But let us leave it to them and make the masa and the producers and the government (for taxes earned from these theatres and movies) happy during the 2 weeks. We can always watch our choice movies at home.

Enjoy your visit (soon).

Is it really necessary to show ONLY Filipino movies during the 2-week Manila filmfest?soap opera opera theater

I have mixed emotions about this subject. I resent not having an option when going to the movie during that time period, but I also am glad that the film industry in the Philippines is given support. It is a tough industry to survive in and the help is needed I am sure. I feel it is important that every country and culture has a vibrant film industry.

One cannot expect the quality of the films to be the same as the quality in the U.S.A. They do not have the budget. The distribution of the U.S.A. films are far more reaching than Philippine films and lots of that has to do with the language spoken in the films. More distribution, more income which equates to bigger budgets for future films.

Maybe you can chalk it up to patrotism and get through the two weeks.
You can watch foreign movies on DVDs at home. There's no cause for arguments.
I feel you mate its absolute bollocks! Not that I despise filipino films that much (our films sucks dogs for quarters we are left behind by thailand and other SEA countries). But still watching spiderman 3 and hitman beats the crap out of watchin mano po part 20!
Hey newluv it wouldn't be Manila Filmfest now if we start showing 'em foreign films too, would it? So just for two weeks, we'll just stay home and watch our homemade movies, okay? hahaha

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;opps, just kidding hon!
I certainly agree.. the local film industry takes this time to rake up sales which they couldn't sustain against foreign films. It's just disappointing that supposed quality (or at least tried to have it) movies from big shot producers are seasonal. It's one reason our indie films score more awards abroad than these films.
YES! I AGREE WITH YOU! THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW!

But come to think of it, may be there are. Laws, I mean. And may be in Metro Manila, that IS the law. We can't do anything now, because it is too late to change the law. We can only follow the law, because NO ONE is said to be above the law.

And, very early next year we work to change the lawmakers in Manila, so they can pass a law repealing what prevails. The law should provide for the means for our local producers to "ante up" their productions, as you say. State subsidies for local stars and studios, providing support for local films, and thus enhancing the chances of stars to have politics for their future..... Hmmmm - Would GMA support this, you think? After all, this means the state would be paying for early campaigning of their most potent rivals! (a breeding ground for the next Erap and the next FPJ). Barring that angle in politics, the State should allot funds for better sound systems, better color, better EVERYTHING, including the use of local extras to be employed by the thousands for mammoth productions (thereby increasing employment), and the use of live bullets to make films more realistic (thereby, providing free military training for the masses, and laying the groundwork for a better army) ..... WHAT ELSE?

By God, PT, we could have hit a goldmine here.....
2 weeks out of the whole year isn't so bad to exclusively showcase pilipino-made movies. those in the movie industry are well aware of the filipinos penchant to spend (overspend, in fact) during the christmas holidays so they want to dip also into the people's pockets. they do want to survive too. you'd live during those 2 weeks. we all can!

merry christmas all!