A post shared by erikmatti (@erikmatti) on May 22, 2017 at 3:09am PDT

MANILA – Acclaimed filmmaker Erik Matti has called on the organizers of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) to change their criteria in choosing which movies will make the cut for the annual festival.

“[Just say], ‘We only want movies that are commercial, that we feel is commercial.’ Wala na tayong pag-uusapan. But to hide behind the vision which is artistic excellence, to push for cultural chu chu, global appeal, medyo garapal lang,” he said in an interview with reporters on Monday.

Matti said it frustrates him that no one from the MMFF actually seems accountable despite the way it selects participating movies.

“Isipin mo, kapag sa ibang industriya ito, ipapatawag na si (Leila) de Lima. Somebody is answerable. But for MMFF, no one is answerable. No one touches them, no one calls them up and say, ‘Hoy ano ang pinaggagagawa niyo diyan?’ Wala. Parang mas powerful pa sila sa pinaka-powerful,” he said.

In fact, Matti admitted he knew his film "Buy Bust" starring Anne Curtis will probably not make the cut this year although he was obliged to submit it.

“I thought my movie would have no chance. It’s obvious. If you look at the entries that were brought in, it’s 30% artista, 30% producer, 30% theme song, 10% brightness,” he said.

He then shared what for him is ideal in addressing the situation.

“Panindigan lang nila ang gusto nilang gawin. Ako, sumasali naman ako dati pa… Pero alam na namin dati pa, 'yun lang talaga ang point, sino ang artista, sino ang producer, wala ngang istorya. May istorya pero hindi pinag-uusapan 'yung kuwento,” he said.

Despite this, the director made it clear that he is not against the first four entries which were chosen last Friday based on script submissions.

“I’m not judging the four films that were chosen. I’m judging how they selected it. It’s the MMFF that I have a problem with and not the movies,” he stressed.

Included in the so-called "Magic 8" were Coco Martin's remake of "Ang Panday," and Star Cinema's superhero flick "The Revengers," which stars Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, and Pia Wurtzbach.

Also making the cut are "Almost is Not Enough" directed by Dan Villegas and starring Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales; and Antonio Reyes's "Love Traps #FamilyGoals" top-billed by Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta.

The other four entries, which will be picked from finished film submissions, will be announced at a later date.

Immediately after the announcement of the first four films, Ricky Lee, Rolando Tolentino and Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala resigned as members of the MMFF Executive Committee.

While Magsanoc-Alikpala has yet to speak up about the matter, Tolentino posted a series of tweets in relation to why he resigned.

“Patunay ang MMFF script selections na tunay ang hidwaan ng komersyal at kalidad, tunay din may kapangyarihan ang komersyal interes,” he said through a tweet.

“Patunay ang MMFF script selections na walang interes burahin ang indie at mainstream distinksyon. Ang nabura, ang indie,” he added.

Lee, for his part, explained that he only agreed to join the MMFF Executive Committee "kung ipagpapatuloy nito ang nasimulan nang reforms ng 2016.”

But in a statement on Sunday, he admitted he doesn’t see this happening.

“Sa nagiging takbo ng mga pangyayari ngayon ay mukhang malabo na iyong mangyari. Kaya wala na ring dahilan para mag-stay pa ako,” he said.