MANILA – If it were only up to her, veteran actress Nora Aunor no longer wants to make movies.

"Kasi kung ako ang tatanungin mo, hangga't maari ayaw ko na gumawa ng pelikula. Gusto ko ibalik na lang ang mga pelikulang ginagawa ko noong araw tulad ng mga ‘Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos,’ ‘Bona,’ at ‘Himala.’ Ayaw ko ng gumawa ng mga 10 shooting days kasi unang-una, kapag hindi na-recognize 'yung ibang tao, ang napapasama ay 'yung artista," she said in an interview during the recent The Eddys Awards.

The actress made the statement after she was asked about the controversy surrounding this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival after four members of its executive committee left their post supposedly because the festival is prioritizing “commerce over art.”

Aunor, who has won several best actress trophies from the MMFF through the years, noted that the independent film sector helps the movie industry because it opens a lot of opportunities for more people.

"Hindi sa ano pa mang bagay, hindi sa nagmamalaki, malaking tulong 'yun at malaking tulong din sa mga direktor natin na kailangan gumawa din naman tayo ng mga pelikulang indie. Dahil sa halimbawa sa mga bata nating direktor ay madami din ang magagaling kaya siguro depende na 'yun sa kuwento o material na gagawin ng isang artista," she said.

What’s important, Aunor stressed, is for everyone to be united in pushing for a better Philippine cinema.

“Maging artista ka, direktor o kung sino man na mga jury ng ating mga festivals, dapat may pagkakaisa talaga. Tignan natin kung sino talaga 'yung matinong pelikula. Hindi 'yung palakasan kasi may ibang judges na pabor kay ganito, kay ganyan. So sana hindi tinitignan sa ganoong sitwasyon. Sana piliin ang mga pelikula na karapatdapat para doon sa festival talaga," she said.

So far, the MMFF has chosen four films based on script submissions to be part of this year’s festival. It includes Coco Martin's adaptation of "Ang Panday," and Star Cinema's superhero flick "The Revengers," which stars Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla, and Pia Wurtzbach.

Also part of the "Magic 8" are "Almost is Not Enough" directed by Dan Villegas and starring Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales; and Antonio Reyes' "Love Traps #FamilyGoals" top-billed by Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta.

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