Carlos Siguion-Reyna Withdraw as MMFF 2020 Juror

Carlos Siguion-Reyna Withdraw as MMFF 2020 Juror, this is what he posted on his Facebook wall set to public:

WITHDRAWAL FROM JURY DUTY AT MMFF 2020

I’ve withdrawn from jury duty in MMFF 2020, as my wife and son are in the cast of one of the entries, Magikland. While it’s one thing to abstain from any awards category for which Magikland would most likely not be considered (e.g., lifetime achievement, or other similar special awards), it’s quite another case to stay on even if I abstain from performance categories for which my family members might be considered. Even if I abstain from the acting categories yet voted in the other regular categories, it would still raise questions about my interest in pushing a film that includes two family members in the cast.

In all fairness to the MMFF, I had erred in accepting the request to sit as juror when it was made within the last week. I’d been busy on other projects and didn’t recall I had two family members in the cast of an entry. Upon realization of this awkward situation, I think it is wrong to compound an error (accepting the assignment in the first place) with another one (staying on). Hence, this decision.

I regret the inconvenience and awkwardness this could cause or has caused the MMFF, and wish the MMDA, the fest’s other organizers, and all film entries only the best for this festival.