Noel Ferrer addresses public concerns regarding 2024 MMFF Gabi ng Parangal results: 'No cooking show'
Metro Manila Film Festival spokesperson Noel Ferrer has defended the results of the 2024 MMFF Awards, stating on Instagram that they are 'fair, sound, and final."
"You may agree or disagree with their choices... but the integrity of each and every member of the Jury since we took charge in 2016, especially on this 50th Edition of the MMFF cannot be assailed," he wrote.
"They have exhaustively deliberated and decided on the nominees and the winners from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. yesterday ... No leaks, definitely no cooking show ... only the Jury Chair and the MMFF Executive Director knew the results, not even I or any member of the Execom. Rest assured, there was due process and the judgment was fair and sound AND FINAL," the film producer and talent manager said.
Many social media users are expressing surprise and disappointment over the exclusion of Aga Muhlach and Eugene Domingo from the Best actor and Supporting Actress nominations, and Zig Dulay's loss for Best Director, particularly given his film's strong showing in other categories.
"Eugene Domingo not being nominated in any award is beyond ridiculous. Honestly baffling how they can completely overlook someone as TALENTED, and as GROUNDBREAKING as her. Disrespecting someone like THE EUGENE DOMINGO is a blatant disregard for true artistry," one X user said.
"Sorry pero parang ambastos nung walang nominations si aga muhlach tapos pinag present pa sya ng award right after," another one wrote.
"Direk Zig Dulay has been robbed by MMFF for being the best director for 2 consecutive years. How can you make a film with [B]est [S]screenplay, [B]est [C]inematography, and [B]est [A]ctors altogether if you are not the [B]est [D]irector???WTF," expressed another.
In another post featuring a screenshot and an image of the event flow, Ferrer clarified that a segment of the show featured a tribute to legendary MMFF figures throughout the years, not an 'in memoriam' segment. This clarification followed social media reactions to a clip where Domingo's photo appeared during a segment that some viewers mistakenly interpreted as honoring deceased individuals.
He wrote, "SANA MAN LANG NA APPRECIATE NA ANG HUHUSAY NG MGA NAGPERFORM KAGABI … just to clarify - the number of @armanfferrer (Arman Ferrer), @iammarkbautista (Mark Bautista), Robert Sena & @johnarcilla was a tribute number to MMFF Icons through the 50 years… hindi po in memoriam."
During the 50th MMFF Gabi ng Parangal held on Dec. 27, Dulay's Green Bones bagged several big awards, including the coveted Best Picture title. For the Best Actress category, the honor went to Judy Ann Santos for her role in the supernatural horror film Espantaho.
