Film critical of Duterte out of Sinag Maynila
BRILLANTE Ma. Mendoza-led film festival Sinag Maynila has disqualified an official entry for being critical of the current administration.
“Sinag Maynila announces that the film, Walang Kasarian ang Digmaang Bayan (The Revolution Knows No Gender) directed by Joselito Altarejos will be pulled out from this year’s Full Length category finalists,” the festival’s statement, posted on Friday, read.
It added that the reason for disqualification is because after a “thorough review” of the executive committee found “that there is substantial deviation from the submitted and approved script.”
“The film is no longer a faithful representation of the approved screenplay,” it explained.
In a press huddle with Mr. Altarejos, the director said in vernacular that he “wasn’t singling out anything although a big part [of the film] is about the current government,” according to a story by The Philippine Star.
“[The issues has] been happening from way, way back. For me, if it’s all around us, we hear about it, we know about it, it’s in the news. I never invented anything,” he added.
In the film’s trailer, Rita Avila’s character says that if she was braver, she would be the one to personally kill Duterte before it cuts to wake of a young boy.
“If we are still called a democracy, we are still free to express our opinions, whether political or personal because politics is personal,” Mr. Altarejos said.
With the disqualification of Walang Kasarian, the festival will feature He
Who is Without Sin by Jason Paul Laxamana, The Highest Peak by Arnel Barbarona, Kintsugi (Beautifully Broken) by Lawrence Fajardo, and Latay by Ralston Jover.
Sinag Maynila was created by Mr. Mendoza and Solar Entertainment chairman Wilson Tieng in 2015 a bid to present independent film of international quality.
Sinag Maynila runs from March 17 to 24 in select Metro Manila cinemas.