Call Me Mother director laments expensive movie tickets: “a family would need at least ₱1,500”

• Jun Robles Lana shared his concern about the high cost of movie tickets during the Metro Manila Film Festival
• He said the MMFF used to be a people’s festival where ordinary families could enjoy Filipino films together
• The director pointed out that a family of four now needs around 1500 pesos just for tickets, making cinema feel like a luxury
• Furthermore, Jun warned that by pricing out ordinary Filipinos, the film industry is slowly losing its soul and national spirit

Call Me Mother director Jun Robles Lana, who directed Vice Ganda in his acclaimed role, shared his thoughts online about the rising cost of movie tickets during the Metro Manila Film Festival, expressing concern over how cinema has slowly become out of reach for many Filipinos. He recalled how the MMFF used to be known as the “people’s festival,” a time when ordinary workers could bring their families to the mall and enjoy local films together as a shared tradition.

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According to the award-winning filmmaker, watching a movie today has become too expensive for the average family, noting that a family of four would need at least ₱1,500 just for tickets alone, not including transportation or food. He lamented that high prices are slowly pushing ordinary Filipinos out of movie theaters, turning cinema from a shared cultural experience into a privilege only for the middle class.

Jun Robles Lana stressed that this shift has deeper consequences for the local film industry, saying that by losing everyday audiences, cinema is also losing its soul and its role as a national art form. He added that promoting a “National” Film Festival feels contradictory if ticket prices continue to exclude the very people the festival is meant to represent.

Here is the full statement shared by Jun Robles Lana:

“For decades, the MMFF was the “people’s festival.” It was the one time of year when ordinary workers took their children to the mall to see their idols. But today, a family of four would need at least ₱1,500 just to enter the theater, not including transportation or even a single bag of popcorn.

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By pricing the ordinary Filipino out of the theater, the industry hasn’t just lost customers, it has lost its soul. Cinema has shifted from a shared national culture to a middle-class privilege.

You cannot promote a “National” Film Festival while maintaining prices that exclude the nation. Until we admit that cinema has become a luxury that the “₱500 Noche Buena” family cannot afford, we are simply watching the slow, expensive sunset of Philippine cinema.”

Vice Ganda is one of the biggest names in Philippine entertainment. He is a comedian, actor, endorser, and television host who has been part of the noontime show It’s Showtime for many years. He is also known for starring in several box office hits during the Metro Manila Film Festival. In his personal life, Vice is in a relationship with Ion Perez, and they marked their commitment by getting a Certificate of Commitment in a private ceremony in Las Vegas on October 19, 2021.

In one episode of It’s Showtime, Vice opened up about a difficult experience from his childhood. He shared that he often felt embarrassed and sad during school Christmas parties because he could not always take part in gift exchanges. While speaking during the December 18 Laro Laro Pick segment, he said these memories helped him better understand the struggles of Joy, a solo parent. He also stressed how important it is for parents to try their best for their children, especially during the holiday season.

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Meanwhile, Shuvee Etrata expressed her gratitude to Vice Ganda for believing in the cast of the MMFF film Call Me Mother. She shared behind the scenes photos with her co actors and talked about the close bond they built while working on the movie. Shuvee said she feels thankful and proud to be part of the project.

Source: KAMI.com.gh