The annual QCinema International Film Festival is pulling out all the stops to make this year’s edition a truly memorable post-pandemic celebration.
Slated to run from November 17 to 26, 2022, the 10th edition of the festival will showcase 58 movies ranging from short films to full-length features from around the globe.
All participating films will be screened in cinemas at Gateway, Trinoma, Powerplant Mall, Cinema 76, and SM North EDSA.
Online screening, which is exclusive for QCShorts 2022, QCShorts 2021, and RainbowQC Shorts, will be available on the Vivamax streaming platform from November 22 to 26.
The movies are specially curated to fit specific sections: Screen International highlights renowned directors with distinctive styles, New Horizon features new but acclaimed directors, RainbowQC caters to films with LGBT+ theme, and Special Screenings showcases titles making their Philippine premiere, among many others.
“Parang ang guiding principle ko is, okay, this is our tenth anniversary and people are dying to watch good films and these good films are not going to your streaming platforms anytime soon,” festival director Ed Lejano told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at a press event on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Seda Hotel in Quezon City.
“So if you want revenge watching, go to QCinema because these are intense films.
“We’re opening up to films with big Hollywood stars, Filipino stars like John Lloyd [Cruz] and Cherie Gil.
“We’re so excited to share this with our followers.”
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS PHILIPPINE DEBUT
QCinema opens with a bang, courtesy of the critically acclaimed film Triangle of Sadness.
The satirical black comedy film was written and directed by Swedish director Ruben Östlund, whose previous works include Force Majeure (2014) and The Square (2017).
Triangle of Sadness won the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in France.
The film is a strong contender to land an Oscar nomination for the Best International Feature Film category.
Part of the cast is Filipino actress Dolly de Leon, whose portrayal of a toilet manager for a luxury yacht had critics talking of a potential Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Triangle of Sadness has been screened in different countries except for the Philippines. It makes its local debut via QCinema as one of the most anticipated films in this year’s roster.
“I was in Cannes, 'tapos pinag-uusapan na iyan, may buzz. I couldn’t get an appointment with the producer or the distributor, so when I came back here may nabalitaan akong chismis na TBA Studios pala [ang Philippine distributor], so we were having midnight conversations,” Ed revealed.
In a recent chat with PEP.ph, Dolly, currently in the US to promote the film, hinted at coming home in November to grace the film’s Philippine screening.
“Hindi ko pa puwede i-announce yung official premiere, may premiere date na, e," said Dolly at the time.
"Alam ko na rin yung premiere date. Pero yung mismong festival na magbubukas iyong film namin, wala pa silang mismong announcement. So ayoko sila pangunahan."
She continued, “Kasi ano siya, e, siya yung klase ng pelikula na masarap panoorin sa sinehan dahil masaya siya pag marami kayo sa theater na nanunood kesa yung nanunood ka lang sa laptop, iba yung effect.”
Was Dolly alluding to QCinema as that festival she mentioned? If yes, movie fans are surely excited to see the film and Dolly herself attending the event.
A LEGEND’S SWAN SONG
Another film in this year’s roster that shouldn’t be missed is Elehiya, directed by Loy Arcenas and starring Cherie Gil in the lead role.
Elehiya was the last film project of Cherie before the actress announced her departure for the U.S. early this year.
She lost her battle against endometrial cancer on August 5, 2022, at age 59.
Cherie portrayed the role of Celine de Miranda, a doctor who attempts to escape the sad memories of her late husband's infidelities.
Elehiya will be shown under the festival’s Asian New Wave Section.
Ed feels privileged that QCinema will serve as the platform for viewers to once again witness the brilliance of Cherie as an artist.
“I was so honored,” Ed said poignantly.
“Kasi parang synchronicity. Natapos siya just as we were filling up slots for Asian Next Wave and I was invited to a test screening.
“The editing was not final yet so he [Loy Arcenas] wanted feedback and I happened to be there. He invited me, and I said, ‘Direk Loy, please finish this film. This is what she deserves for her final film.’”