THIS year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is a welcome event, as it takes place when Covid-19 cases are receding. As a result, cinemas have reopened and the MMFF entries are back in the movie houses. But the festival organizers and its participants should review the policy of prohibiting cinemas from also showing foreign films and other local works that are not part of the festival during the event. If the aim is to help local filmmakers develop, then competition should be allowed. Like elsewhere in the economy, protectionist policies can actually impede progress.