The annual QCinema International Film Festival returns for its 12th edition showcasing 77 titles, including 22 short films and 55 full-length films, across 11 sections. Taking on ‘The Gaze” as its central theme, the initiative invites audiences to explore diverse perspectives through film.
QCinema 2 – ‘Silig’ directed by Arvin Belarmino (Philippines) and Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia) starring Angel Aquino and Sylvia Sanchez
Featuring a mix of Asian competition films, world cinema, genre works, and arthouse gems, The Gaze offers a rich and immersive experience that opens new insights into politics, gender, race, and more.
‘Moneyslapper’ directed by Bor Ocampo and starring John Lloyd Cruz will hold itst world premiere in the QCinema Asian Next Wave competition. PHOTOS FROM FACEBOOK/QCINEMA PH
Festival Artistic Director Ed Lejano said in a press conference, “The Gaze celebrates how filmmakers use cinema to portray unique perspectives, ideologies, identities, and politics. In this festival, that theme resonates even more because it reminds us why we make films — to make a statement while offering enjoyment. Sometimes, the messages are overlooked, but as we curate the films, we realize that a film festival is truly where we celebrate all these diverse points of view.”
‘Cloud’ by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa is the festival’s closing film.
Kicking off this year’s edition is Directors’ Factory Philippines, an omnibus film project created in collaboration with Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
This initiative features the works of four filmmakers from the partner country and four from other nations — “Walay Balay” directed by Eve Baswel (Philippines) and Gogularaajan Rajendran (Malaysia); “Nightbirds” directed by Maria Estela Paiso (Philippines) and Ashok Vish (India); “Silig” directed by Arvin Belarmino (Philippines) and Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia); and “Cold Cut” directed by Don Eblahan (Philippines) and Tan Siyou (Singapore).
QCinema 2024 will close with “Cloud” by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Premiered out of competition at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, “Cloud” has garnered international attention and was selected as Japan’s Best International Feature Film entry at the 97th Academy Awards.
Competition sections
QCinema 2024 will feature two main competition sections: Asian Next Wave and QCShorts International.
Among the lineup in the Asian Next Wave Competition are films from three debuting female directors: “Don’t Cry Butterfly” by Duong Dieu Linh (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore), the Grand Prize winner at Venice Critics’ Week; “Pierce” by Nelicia Low (Taiwan, Poland, Singapore), Best Director at the recent Karlovy Vary Crystal Globe Competition; and making its Asian premiere, “Mistress Dispeller,” a feature documentary by Elizabeth Lo (China, USA), winner of the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film at Venice.
Four other debuts include “Happyend” by Neo Sora (Singapore, UK, USA); “Tale of the Land” (Indonesia, Philippines, Qatar, Taiwan); “Viet and Nam” by Truong Minh Quy (Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, USA); and “Moneyslapper” by Bor Ocampo (Philippines).
This year, QCShorts has expanded to include films from across Southeast Asia, with six Filipino short film grantees competing alongside the region’s best.
Competing in QCShorts International are “Alaga” by Nicole Rosacay, “Kinakausap ni Celso ang Diyos” by Gilb Baldoza, “Refrain” by Joseph Dominic Cruz, “RAMPAGE! (o ang parada)” by Kukay Bautista Zinampan, “Supermassive Heavenly Body” by Sam Villa-Real, and “Water Sports” by Whammy Alcazaren from the Philippines.
Joining them from Southeast Asia are “Are We Still Friends?” by Al Ridwan (Indonesia); “Here We Are” by Chanasorn Chaikitiporn (Thailand); “In the Name of Love I Will Punish You” by Exsell Rabbani (Indonesia); “Peaceland” by Ekin Kee Charles (Malaysia); “Saigon Kiss” by Hồng Anh Nguyễn (Vietnam/Australia/Germany); and the Locarno-winning “WAShhh” by Mickey Lai (Malaysia/Ireland).
For this year’s edition, RainbowQC and New Horizons are now both international competition sections under the Special Critics Prize awards, with their respective juries.
RainbowQC continues to celebrate LGBTQIA+ films, showcasing diverse stories of identity, love, and community with bold and authentic voices from queer cinema worldwide. New Horizons presents groundbreaking debut feature films from visionary new directors.
RainbowQC includes three Cannes Queer Palm nominees: “Baby” by Marcelo Caetano; “The Balconettes” by Noémie Merlant; and “My Sunshine” by Hiroshi Okuyama; as well as “Pooja, Sir” by Deepak Rauniyar and “Sebastian” by Mikko Mäkelä.
Meanwhile, the New Horizons section includes “Blue Sun Palace” by Constance Tsang; “Cu Li Never Cries” by Phạm Ngọc Lân; “Santosh” by Sandhya Suri; “The Major Tones” by Ingrid Pokropek; and “Toxic” by Saulė Bliuvaitė.
Exhibition sections
The most awaited section of QCinema 2024, Screen International, showcases 10 films from world-renowned directors, each celebrated for their distinctive styles and acclaimed works.
This year’s lineup includes two recent titles from the San Sebastián Film Festival: “Afternoons of Solitude” by Albert Serra and “When Fall Is Coming” by François Ozon.
From Cannes are four major winners: “All We Imagine as Light” by Payal Kapadia; “Grand Tour” by Miguel Gomes; “Simon of the Mountain” by Federico Luis; and the Palme d’Or winner, “Anora” by Sean Baker.
Fresh from their Venice world premieres are “Phantosmia” by Lav Diaz; “The End” by Joshua Oppenheimer; “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre de la Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte; and “The Room Next Door” by Pedro Almodóvar.
QCinema also introduces exciting new sections: QCLokal, highlighting local Filipino talents; Rediscovery, which brings classic films back to the big screen; Contemporary Italian Cinema, showcasing the best of modern Italian filmmaking; and QCinema Selects, a curated selection of standout films from around the world.
Other favorite sections are making a comeback at QCinema 2024. Before Midnight section embraces genres, delving into the fantastic, erotic, action thrillers and everything for late-night chills and thrills.
Lastly, Special Screenings offer exclusive, must-see films for a truly unique cinematic experience.
The Special Screenings section includes “An Errand” by Dominic Baekart, “If My Lover Were a Flower” by Kaung Zan, “A Thousand Forests” by Hanz Florentino, and “Lost Sabungeros” by Bryan Brazil.
Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, the documentary film “Lost Sabungeros” was initially slated to premiere at the Cinemalaya Film Festival in August. However, the screening was canceled due to unspecified “security concerns.”
Director Brazil said, “Our film has come quite a long way. We’re really happy to have been given a platform here at QCinema, and we’re very thankful. ‘Lost Sabungeros’ tells the story of the families of missing cockfighters who, to this day, have yet to be found.”
QCinema International Film Festival will take place from November 8 to 17 across Gateway Cineplex 18, Ayala Malls Cinema at Trinoma, Red Carpet at Shangri-la Plaza, and Powerplant Mall.
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