MANILA, Philippines—Good news for independent filmmakers. This year's Metro Manila Film Festival will highlight not only commercial and big-budgeted films, but also indie movies.

According to Francis Tolentino, chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority which organizes the annual festival, at least five independent films will be shown in selected theaters from December 16 to 21, a week before the actual film festival that is scheduled to open on Christmas Day.

He said the event is aimed at promoting quality independent films and to encouraging small filmmakers.

“This is our way of helping independent filmmakers. It is a viable avenue for them to showcase their movies and to increase public awareness on these kinds of movies which are normally not shown commercially, but are internationally acclaimed in foreign film festivals,” he added.

In coordination with the Independent Filmmakers Cooperative (IFC) headed by Raymond Lee, the MMDA has formed a special committee to screen the films to be shown and to supervise the actual pre-festival exhibition.

The films will be shown in digital theaters with high definition once a day, between 7 and 8 p.m. Pre-selling of tickets will be done to maximize viewership.

One segment of the Awards Night Program slated on December 26 shall be devoted to the independent filmmakers to highlight their participation in the festival.

One entry will be given the award for Achievement in Technical Excellence and shall receive a sponsorship from Fuji Film to convert the film into 35-millimeter picture for showing in a regular commercial run after January 7 next year. Special citations will be given to all participating films.

The MMDA will help in the advertisement and promotion of the independent films by installing tarpaulins in the agency’s Pahayagan ng Bayan along the major thoroughfares.

Earlier, Tolentino hinted about adding more people on the board of jurors who will pick the best picture in the MMFF. He said the move would help put an end to controversy year after year regarding movies that automatically top the competition by merely recording the biggest ticket sales.

Yearly the best picture award at the MMFF goes to the film that receives the biggest number of tickets sold during the three-week festival in Metro Manila during the holidays. The scheme has received mixed reactions ranging from the harsh criticism to accolades.

Tolentino said people “from all walks of life” should have a say who should win the coveted best picture prize.

“I would like to put a teacher, a student, or even a bus driver, among the board of jurors,” Tolentino said, explaining that their voices and views should be heard more in the choice of films.

“The people should be the ones deciding on the fate of a film, rather than an exclusive group. More participation of people is the key to the success of the competition and this would be done by putting everyday Filipinos on the jury," he added.