MANILA — "Uninvited" lead actor Aga Muhlach and "And the Breadwinner Is..." actress Eugene Domingo were two of the trending topics on social media last night, after netizens questioned why they were "snubbed" from nominations at the Metro Manila Film Festival awarding ceremonies.

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Muhlach was submitted for the lead actor category, as confirmed to ABS-CBN News by Project 8 producer Tonet Jadaone while Domingo was for the supporting actress category for the dramedy movie, as confirmed by Star Cinema's AdProm head Mico del Rosario. 

Netizens and viewers of last night's ceremonies were shocked when both of their names were not even included in the nominations. To add to the two, fans also questioned why Dan Villegas and Jun Lana - directors of "Uninvited" and "And the Breadwinner Is..." respectively, were also not nominated.

These were also critics asking why Zig Dulay, director of the MMFF 2024 Best Picture "Green Bones" and the MMFF 2023 Best Picture "Firefly", did not win Best Director or at least tied with the winner, "The Kingdom" director Michael Tuviera. 

The morning after the awards night, MMFF Spokesperson Noel Ferrer posted this statement online to quash rumors and questions on the credibility of the jurors and their decision.

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"YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THEIR CHOICES … but the integrity of each and every member of the Jury since we took charge in 2016 , especially on this 50th Edition of the MMFF cannot be assailed. They have exhaustively deliberated and decided on the nominees and the winners from 9am-4:30pm yesterday … No leaks, definitely no cooking show … only the Jury Chair and the MMFF Executive Director knew the results, not even I or any member of the Execom," his statement reads. 

He added, "Rest assured, there was due process and the judgment was fair and sound AND FINAL!!!" 

The jury was headed by award-winning author and film critic Nicanor Tiongson and co-chaired by Film Development Council of the Philippines chief executive officer Jose Javier Reyes. Other members of the jury include scriptwriter Roy Iglesias, journalist Marinel Cruz, Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association (PMPPA) Producer Jesse Ejercito, Film Academy of the Philippines Director-General Paolo Villaluna among others.