Quezon City’s homegrown film festival has announced the complete lineup for its 13th edition, highlighting the city’s continuing role in promoting the country’s cinematic landscape.
With the theme ‘Film City,’ this year’s QCinema International Film Festival will again showcase a wide range of world and local films across nine full-length sections and five shorts programs, which were unveiled during a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Diliman, Quezon City.
The festival, which is set to run from Nov. 13 to 24 in cinemas in Quezon City, operates under the Quezon City Film Development Foundation.
‘Couture’ by French filmmaker Alice Winocour, starring Angelina Jolie, is set to serve as the opening film this year. The film, which follows an American director attending Paris Fashion Week, explores filmmaking through a story within a story.
The festival’s main competitions include Asian Next Wave, RainbowQC, New Horizons and QCShorts International.
Competition Sections
The Asian Next Wave section features emerging voices from Asia, with entries such as:
‘A Useful Ghost by’ Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany), winner of the Cannes Critics Week Grand Prix;
‘Diamonds in the Sand’ by Janus Victoria (Japan, Malaysia, Philippines);
‘Family Matters’ by Pan Ke-yin (Taiwan);
‘Lost Land’ by Akio Fujimoto (Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany); and
‘Open Endings’ by Nigel Santos (Philippines), winner of Best Ensemble Performance at Cinemalaya.
The RainbowQC competition presents queer-centered narratives including ‘Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingoes’ by Diego Céspedes (Chile), ‘On the Road’ by David Pablos (Mexico) and ‘Skin of Youth’ by Ash Mayfair (Vietnam, Singapore, Japan).
The New Horizons section, which spotlights debut and sophomore works include ‘Amoeba’ by Siyou Tan (Singapore), ‘Chronology of Water’ by Kristen Stewart (USA, France, Latvia) and ‘The President’s Cake’ by Hasan Hadi (Iraq, USA, Qatar).
The QCShorts International section features 21 titles including world premieres of six short films produced under the QCinema 2025 grant program. Among them are ‘Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!’ by Norvin de los Santos, ‘Ours Was a Timeless Night Burning’ by Lauviah Caliboso and ‘RUNO!’ by Racquel ‘Lysa’ Catolico and Jazmine Gin Pateña.
Exhibition Sections
QCinema will also present its Exhibition Sections, which highlight acclaimed titles from the global festival circuit and restored classics.
The Screen International program, meanwhile, includes ‘Couture’ by Winocour, ‘Hamnet’ by Chloé Zhao, ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, and ‘Sirat’ by Oliver Laxe.
The Before Midnight section is expected to feature restored and rediscovered works such as ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Morgan Knibbe, ‘Rabbit Trap’ by Bryn Chainey and ‘Ugly Stepsister’ by Emilie Blichfeldt.
The Rediscovery section brings back modern classics including ‘Almost Famous’ by Cameron Crowe starring Kate Hudson, ‘Linda Linda Linda’ by Nobuhiro Yamashita and ‘Showgirls’ by Paul Verhoeven.
QC Selects will also screen locally made films that have gained recognition in other festivals, such as ‘Call My Manager’ by Erik Matti, ‘Human Resource’ by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit and ‘Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus’ by Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian starring Lovi Poe.
Meanwhile, sections that are new to this year’s lineup are Dokyu Days, a documentary-focused showcase, and Focus on: Sandra Hller, a tribute to the acclaimed German actress known for her work in ‘Toni Erdmann’ and ‘The Zone of Interest.’
The 13th QCinema International Film Festival will conclude with the awarding of the Asian Next Wave Best Film, which will also serve as this year’s closing film. /ra