QCINEMA RETURNS WITH 77 FILMS ACROSS 11 SECTIONS

THEMED "THE GAZE," THE QCINEMA INTERNATIONAL FILM Festival (QCIFF) has returned for its 12th edition with another notable lineup of local and global films to be screened across Gateway Cineplex 18, Ayala Malls Cinema at Trinoma, Red Carpet at Shangri-la Plaza, and Powerplant Mall from Nov. 8 to 17.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

The film festival will showcase a total of 77 titles, including 22 short films and 55 full-length films, across 11 sections.

Four feature films from Directors' Factory Philippines, an omnibus film project created in collaboration with Cannes Directors' Fortnight, will kickstart the QCIFF. These movie projects include "Walay Balay" directed by Eve Baswel and Gogularaajan Rajendran; "Nightbirds" by Maria Estela Paiso and Ashok Vish; "Silig" by Arvin Belarmino and Lomorpich Rithy; and "Cold Cut" by Don Eblahan and Tan Siyou.

Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Cloud" is the closing film. It has earned international attention, premiering at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and getting selected as Japan's Best International Feature Film entry at the 97th Academy Awards or Oscars.

The Asian Next Wave competition, on the other hand, features “Don’t Cry Butterfly” by Duong Dieu Linh, the Grand Prize winner at Venice Critics’ Week; “Pierce” by Nelicia Low, Best Director at the recent Karlovy Vary Crystal Globe Competition; and “Mistress Dispeller,” a feature documentary by Elizabeth Lo, winner of the NETPAC award for Best Asian Film at Venice filmfest.

Also making their QCinema debut are Neo Sora’s “Happyend,” which recently premiered in Venice; “Tale of the Land,” winner of the FIPRESCI prize at last month’s Busan International Film Festival; Truong Minh Quy’s “Viet and Nam,” featured in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard; and Bor Ocampo’s “Moneyslapper.”

Under the QCShorts International competition, the participating shorts 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.