The QCinema International Film Festival will open its 12th edition with an Asian premiere from the Directors’ Factory Philippines, an omnibus film that debuted at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The program, marking the first time a short film collection will kick off the festival, features four short films from emerging filmmakers across Southeast Asia.
The selected films are: 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).
Directors’ Factory Philippines is the first Directors’ Factory program to be held in Southeast Asia, following previous editions in Taiwan. Each year, the program pairs filmmakers from different countries to develop short films, which are then compiled into an omnibus.
Ed Lejano, QCinema Artistic Director, emphasized that the opening with Directors’ Factory sets the tone for a festival focused on creative exploration and new cinematic perspectives. The initiative is a collaboration between QCinema, the Quezon City Film Commission, and Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
The four films cover a range of themes, from Walay Balay, which tells the story of a mother and daughter during wartime, to Cold Cut, a film centered on auditions for a talent show in Dapitan City. Other highlights include Nightbirds, a mystical story about a woman seeking freedom, and Silig, which explores a woman’s battle with cancer as she returns to her hometown.
In addition to the opening program, QCinema will feature a total of 22 short films, including those from the Directors’ Factory program. This year’s QCShorts competition has expanded to QCShorts International, with six grantees competing alongside other standout shorts from Southeast Asia.
The festival aims to provide a platform for short films, offering audiences a chance to experience diverse stories that challenge conventions and stimulate conversation.
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