“MTRCB partners with Ayala Malls, FAP for ‘Balik Sinehan’ initiative”
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), in collaboration with Ayala Malls and the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), has launched the “Balik Sinehan” initiative in an effort to support the Filipino film industry. The event took place on Christmas Day at the Trinoma Malls Cinema in Quezon City.
MTRCB Vice Chairman Njel De Mesa, a film producer himself, highlighted the challenges faced by the film industry, including declining revenue and decreased foot traffic in cinemas due to the popularity of streaming platforms.
“This is not to say that technology is bad—however, with the rise of accessible and competitively-priced streaming platforms, it has been difficult for the local film industry as well as cinemas to recover post-pandemic and they need our help,” De Mesa said.
The event also showcased the film slate of the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) and provided information on the age ratings of this year’s entries, ranging from G (General Audience) to PG (Parental Guidance), to R-13 (Rated-13). Additionally, the MTRCB emphasized the need for responsible viewership.
MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto emphasized the importance of watching movies on the big screen with family and friends, not only for entertainment but also to support the livelihood of those working in the industry.
Various industry personalities and MTRCB Board Members were present at the event to show their support for the initiative.
As the event concluded, Sotto, De Mesa, and other board members called on the public to show their support for all 10 film festival entries.
