THE Metro Manila Film Festival Executive Committee (MMFF Execom) has announced that Carlo Ledesma’s film Sunod will replace Kris Aquino’s comeback film (K)Ampon which was disqualified for making a casting change beyond the prescribed deadline.

The announcement was made on Sept. 3 via the film festival’s Facebook page.

Sunod, a horror film, stars Carmina Villaroel, Mylene Dizon, Susan Africa, and Kate Alejandrino and is produced by Ten17P production. Mr. Ledesma was one of the writers of a previous MMFF entry, Saving Sally (2016) while Ten17P has produced several MMFF entries including Siargao (2017) and Mary, Marry Me (2018).

“[MMFF] rules provide that in the case of disqualification, the vacant slot shall be automatically filled by the next-in-rank of the same film genre. Per the ranking of the Selection Committee, Sunod is the horror film next-in-rank to the film (K)Ampon,” the Execom said in the statement.

(K)Ampon, which was supposed to be Kristina Bernadette “Kris” Aquino’s comeback horror film, was disqualified in August after Derek Ramsay backed out after prioritizing his contract with GMA Network. Mr. Ramsay currently stars in the network’s primetime show, The Better Woman.

The film’s producers tried to replace Mr. Ramsay with Gabby Concepcion but the MMFF noted that the deadline to request a change of lead actor was on July 30 — the film’s producers submitted their request on Aug. 5.

Sunod now joins the other three entries chosen from script submissions: The Miracle in Cell No. 7, Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity, and Momalland.

The four finished films chosen as entries will be announced at a later date, completing the eight MMFF official entries. The MMFF’s deadline for submitting finished films for consideration is on Sept. 20, 5 p.m.

The MMFF runs from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2020 in cinemas nationwide. — ZB Chua

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