Most gay-friendly MMFF entry to get special award

The Gender and Development Award (GAD) for the Most Gender Sensitive Film in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) will be given by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on the awards night tomorrow.

This special award recognizes the film entry which best depicts gender issues and the resolution of gender biases. It is the brainchild of the media team of the Quezon City Gender and Development Resource and Coordinating Office, the resource arm of the city GAD council chaired by Belmonte.

The award consists of a special trophy designed by renowned artist Sandra Torrijos and a cash price.

Meanwhile, Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo, chairman of the MMFF executive committee and lawyer Espiridion Laxa, endorsed the award as an annual award for films submitted as entries.

The GAD awards in cinema are a major breakthrough in mainstreaming the objective of equality and empowerment of men and women in the film industry. It spells a growing appreciation of development through gender sensitivity and responsiveness as mandated under the Women in Nation-building Act or RA 7192.

Quezon City spearheads the award as it is the first city in Metro Manila and the third in Luzon to institute a GAD ordinance, a GAD council and other mechanisms to integrate gender concerns in local governance.