ACCORDING to Metro Manila Film Festival spokesperson Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda, half the festival revenues come from cinemas in Metro Manila, and the rest from cinemas in the provinces. Only the amusement tax (10%) from the Metro Manila cinemas will be given back to the industry.

The MMFF will be earning P23 million from this year鈥檚 festival — 鈥渕ore or less the same as last year,鈥 said Ms. Maceda — with more than P5 million allocated for the cash awards and operating expenses of the festival.

鈥淭he balance of that will be divided between the five beneficiaries: 50% goes to MOWELFUND (Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc.), 20% to the Film Academy of the Philippines, 20% goes to the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, 5% to the Optical Media Board and 5% to the Film Development Council of the Philippines,鈥 she explained. — ZBC