On December 28, ‘Family Matters’ stars Agot Isidro and Nikki Valdez; and producer Mayor Enrico Roque of Cineko Productions voiced their concerns about the Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 jurors snubbing the film during the awards night.
Despite the positive feedback from moviegoers for the MMFF 2022 entry, ‘Family Matters’ only received the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award during the Gabi ng Parangal.
Isidro expressed disappointment over the lack of recognition for their MMFF 2022 movie.
https://twitter.com/agot_isidro/status/1607901947553800192
However, she appreciated the positive feedback from Filipino moviegoers.
Ang nakakapagluwag ng aming dibdib ay ang messages of support, lahat ng glowing reviews, posts na hinihimay ang storya, mga reaksyon pagkalabas ng sinehan.
Hangad namin na ang mga aral na natutunan at natuklasan uli ay inyong isasapuso.
2/3
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) December 28, 2022
Isidro also considered the overwhelming support a win for the cast and the film’s production team.
Hindi bale wala sa amin yun. If anything, dito pa lang sobrang panalo na kami.
Maraming, maraming Salamat sa suporta. Inaasahan namin na mas marami pa ang manonood.
Showing pa rin ang Family Matters sa more than 100 theaters. Kitakits tayo dun.
3/3
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) December 28, 2022
As for Valdez, she also had a similar opinion about what happened during the Gabi ng Parangal, focusing on the success of their film with the Filipino audience.
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1607922425261608961
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1607922427945963520
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1607922431339171840
According to a report, Mayor Roque criticized the lack of nominations and recognition their film got from the MMFF 2022 jurors.
Roque exclaimed, “Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari kagabi….imagine, a movie na pinili based sa finished film (not on script). A movie na kahit saang social media platforms and sinasabi pang Best Picture, at 5/5 ang ganda, walang nomination. The mere fact na napili ang Family Matters sa finished films, kahit papano siguro, maganda yung movie.”
He expressed, “Walo lang ang entries, tapos pumili ng lima para sa Best Picture nang hindi kasama ang Family Matters. Sana pala hindi na lang nila ipinasok sa huling apat na entries ang movie, kung basura pala… at yung wala kahit nomination man lang sina Tita Liza, Agot, Nikki, at Mylene, Direk Nuel, at Tita Mel, yun ang sobrang nakakalungkot kasi napanood ko nang maraming beses ang movie and I must say na nag-deliver sila.”
However, he did acknowledge the quality of the other MMFF 2022 entries.
Roque concluded, “Magaganda naman ang iba pang entries at deserved nila ang manalo ng award, pero siguro naman kahit nominations deserved ng Family Matters.”
Family Matters, directed by Nuel Crisostomo Naval, stars Noel Trinidad, Liza Lorena, Nonie Buencamino, Mylene Dizon, Agot Isidro, JC Santos, James Blanco, and Nikki Valdez.
