MANILA, Philippines — Amid controversy, Regal Films’ “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” bagged the best actress award for Maricel Soriano at the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival’s Awards Night held Dec. 28 at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

A day prior to the awards night, the family drama was disqualified by the MMFF Executive Committee (Execom) from four major award categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and the Gatpuno Villegas Cultural awards.

The committee ruled that Regal submitted a different script compared to the finished product.

Because of the disqualification, Regal matriarch “Mother” Lily Monteverde, Maricel and the film’s other cast members snubbed the awards night.

Airing her dismay, Monteverde told PEP: “Baka sign na ‘yon na hindi na ako mag-join sa filmfest!”

According to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, “YTT” was disqualified for doing a “major revision” in the script that was earlier approved by the committee.

“After the script was approved, iba yung lumabas, iba yung cast. Pareho lang yung title,” Tolentino said in a radio Tuesday.

“Under the rule, kung ano ang approved, hindi na po dapat palitan,” he said in a separate interview.

Monteverde and the film’s director Jun Lana appealed to the MMFF Execom to reconsider its decision on Tuesday. They acknowledged the violations and sent an apology letter for the oversight.

“Regal said it was an ‘oversight’ that the changes in the script and storyline were not communicated properly. They feel bad, but we, at the Execom, had to fulfill our responsibility and exercise our authority for non-compliance with policies,” MMFF execom member Ric Camaligan explained in an interview with PEP.

He maintained, “The policy naman is very clear: The script [can be modified] as long as they inform us. They formally informed us that the casting was to be changed or revised, but that was all. There was no mention about the change of the storyline.”

Regal dismayed by disqualification

Following is Regal’s official statement: “Regal is shocked, dismayed, and deeply hurt by MMFF’s decision to disqualify its entry: ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ from receiving awards in certain categories. The reason cited by MMFF is an alleged major deviation in the storyline.

“It is quite disturbing that the decision was handed out on the very same day as the awards night. Regal was not even informed, not until yesterday (27 Dec. 2011), on any complaint by MMFF with regard to the script and the cast despite the fact that MMFF Execom previewed the entry last 18 Dec. 2011. MMFF’s letter dated 26 Dec. 2011 merely alluded to ‘certain’ deviation without any indication that this was considered ‘major’ under MMFF Rules.

“Regal wants to make it clear that it committed no violation of the MMFF Rules and Regulations. There was no major deviation in the storyline. While the script was slightly modified, this was done primarily to suit changes in the cast of which MMFF had prior notice as per Regal’s letter dated 23 November 2011. The genre and essence of the film were never changed. All the necessary elements required by MMFF that will make the final script identifiable with the one originally submitted are intact.

“The Film Festival is supposed to be an opportunity to unify the film industry. This unfortunate event, however, mars such a beautiful endeavour and unduly limits artistic freedom which was exercised to increase the film’s box office appeal, not for Regal alone but MMFF as well.

“Regal thanks the public for continuing to support its movies and the others shown in the Festival as well. This statement is being issued not in the expectation to win but simply to correct an unfair decision which serves no purpose but to divide an already vulnerable industry.”