With “The Gaze” as its theme, QCinema 2024 invites audiences to explore diverse perspectives through film as this year’s festival showcases 77 titles, including 22 short films and 55 full-length films across 11 sections.
With a mix of Asian competition films, world cinema, genre works, and arthouse gems, viewers are truly in for a treat, and the nice thing is that screenings will be held across Gateway Cineplex 18, Ayala Malls Cinema at Trinoma, Red Carpet at Shangri-La Plaza, and Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center
By invitation
Kicking off its 12th edition is the by-invitation screening of the opening film Directors Factory Philippines, an exciting omnibus film project created in collaboration with Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, that features four films: 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).
Rounding out the festival as the closing film is Cloud by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, which marks its Southeast Asian premiere. The film was recently selected as Japan's Best International Feature Film entry at the 97th Academy Awards.
Not to be missed
As with previous stagings, the most awaited section, arguably, is Screen International, and QCinema 2024 once again aims to please as it brings to audiences acclaimed foreign titles from renowned directors.
Afternoons of Solitude by Albert Serra, a documentary feature that won three awards, including Best Film at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and When Fall is Coming by François Ozon, which won Best Screenplay at the same fest.
Next is All We Imagine as Light by Payal Kapadia, the first Indian film in decades to compete in Cannes' main competition, where it won the Grand Prix; Miguel Gomes’ Grand Tour which won for him Cannes' Best Director and is also Portugal's entry for the 97th Academy Awards; Critics' Week section Grand Prize winner, Simon of the Mountain by Federico Luis; and the Cannes’ Palme d'Or winner, Anora by Sean Baker, touted as a strong Oscar contender.
Not to be missed as well are Phantosmia by Pinoy auteur Lav Diaz; The End, a musical-fantasy by Joshua Oppenheimer; The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre de la Patellièr and Matthieu Delaporte, the most expensive French film of 2024; and the Venice Golden Lion winner, The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodóvar.
Other highlights
Apart from QCinema’s main competition, Asian Next Wave, which showcases some of the most exciting films from emerging Asian filmmakers, and its annual shorts film competition, QCinema also introduces exciting new sections to its lineup:
QCLokal, which highlights 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 making a comeback at QCinema 2024 are The Before Midnight section which embraces genres -- delving into the fantastic, erotic, action thrillers, and everything for late-night chills and thrills while Special Screenings offers exclusive, must-see films for a truly unique cinematic experience.
See you at the movies!
For more information and screening schedules visit www.qcinema.ph or https://www.facebook.com/QCinemaPH
Features Reporter
