The Metro Manila Film Festival Awards night is always replete with controversy.

This year is no different. Celebrities and netizens alike barked like dogs would after winners were announced.

Uninvited?

Not a few raised their collective eyebrows when Uninvited was not nominated in almost all categories. It was clearly snubbed.

Many were wondering why Uninvited was bereft of nomination in several acting and technical aspect of production.

Blake Salcedo, actor and content creator, couldn’t hide his disappointment that he wrote a lengthy aria on Facebook.

“The one film that was brave enough to tell the hard truth gets snubbed?!” he initially said.

“Uninvited was robbed,” he then unabashedly declared.

“Now before anything else, just a disclaimer, I do believe that some of the other winners were deserving (called Green Bones for best picture, deserved) and congrats on the wins.

“But you’re honestly telling me that the one film that really pushes the boundary on its social and political commentary gets utterly snubbed? C’mon!” he explained.

Salcedo was utterly surprised that Aga Muhlach’s portrayal of a corrupt and evil character did not even merit a mere nomination. And neither did Gabby Padilla who played Vilma Santos’ daughter.

“You’re saying that Aga’s visceral portrayal of a powerful, corrupt villain gets nothing?

“Gabby Padilla doesn’t get recognized for her heartbreaking portrayal of a devastating reality that still happens to this day?” he said.

Continuing his aria, Salcedo said: “The story gets next to nothing with how raw and unbiased it went with its message? Or was it coz all of it hit too close to home for some certain folks? Were folks trying to play it safe for the sake of?”

Salcedo said he “rarely gets affected by most award show outcomes, but in this case things feel a bit off.”

“The film’s message is clear. The response says everything else,” he noted.

Reposting Salcedo’s message on his Facebook account, Luis Manzano, Santos’ son, said: “Labo, kahit nomination.”

Talent manager and vlogger Ogie Diaz also questioned the MMFF snub of Muhlach.

“‘Di man lang na-nominate si Aga Muhlach para sa Uninvited? ‘Di ba deserve ni Aga kahit nomination man lang? O nakalimutan lang? (Aga Muhlach wasn’t even nominated for Uninvited? Didn’t Aga deserve even a nomination? Or it was forgotten?)” he asked.

Diaz also questioned why Zig Dulay lost in the best director category when his film Green Bones was honored with a best picture award. Crisanto Aquino for My Future You and Mike Tuviera for The Kingdom tied for the best director award.

“Nanalong best picture pero hindi ang director nito? Paano kayo nasarapan sa kare-kare pero ‘yung nagluto ng kaldereta ang pinuri niyo? (It won best picture but its director did not win? How did you enjoy the kare-kare but you praised the one who cooked kaldereta?)” Diaz asked.

One netizen named Devine David explained why is this so.

“Best Picture” is a broader award for the entire film, while “Best Director” is focused solely on the director’s work.

While closely related, ‘Best Picture’ at an awards ceremony represents the overall quality of a film, considering all aspects like acting, writing, cinematography, and production design, while ‘Best Director’ specifically recognizes the achievements of the film’s director in GUIDING the creative vision and execution of the movie; meaning a film can win Best Picture even if its director doesn’t win Best Director, and vice versa,” David said.

Bashed for bias

Sue Ramirez and Cristine Reyes were torn into smithereens when they unabashedly showed their bias for Sid Lucero.

As presenters of the best supporting actor award, Ramirez and Reyes clearly showed they’re rooting for Lucero, twice nominated for The Kingdom and Topakk.

Reyes can be heard saying “kailangan si Sid ‘to, ha (it should be Sid)” without realizing that her microphone was still on.

Surprise was clearly painted on Reyes and Ramirez’s faces when Ruru Madrid was announced as best supporting actor.

Netizens bashed Ramirez and Reyes for their behavior.

“‘Wag na sila gawing presentors ulit. ‘Di makakapagtago ng bias eh (Don’t make them presentors again. They can’t hide their bias).”

“Pangit Kasi Tingnan! Hahahhaha parang may pinaboran! Hahahha at Pwede ba ung may adlib sila sa pagtawag! Parang walang class (It’s ugly to look at. It’s like they favored someone. And is it right that they adlib in calling? Looks like they don’t have class).”