‘Imelda’opens Monday

Imelda, arguably the movie event of the year, will finally be shown on July 19, Monday, at the 6th Makati Cinemanila International Film Festival.

"I am sure many will watch the movie because it already generated a buzz," festival executive director, Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI, said yesterday.

The movie, directed and produced by Ramona Diaz, will be shown at 8 p.m. at the Cinema 3 of Glorietta 4.

Aguiluz said Unitel Inc., the film’s exclusive distributor, is supposed to release the movie for commercial run in late July.

"Imelda" was one of the finalists in the documentary category in the film festival.

It was one of the winning entries at the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival.

After getting a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on the showing of the film, former First Lady Imelda Marcos petitioned the court to permanently stop the showing of her film biography, tearfully alleging that it was made by Diaz without her consent and that it made a joke out of her life.

But Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Maria Christina Cornejo denied Marcos’ petition for a writ of injunction paving the way for the film’s showing.

Marcos also withdrew her case provided that the distributor will delete the word "documentary" from the film’s title.

But Unitel, Inc. said it will not remove the word from the title because Diaz’s work is a documentary.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, a "street parliamentarian" in the Martial Law years, encouraged the public to watch "Imelda".

"The mayor has maintained that a film of such importance should be watched by the Filipinos," his spokesperson, Lito Anzures, said.

The organizers wish to inform the public that complimentary tickets and guest passes will not be honored for the viewing of "Imelda".

Other filmfest entries will continue to be shown until July 20 at the Greenbelt 1 cinema and complimentary passes will still be accepted.