In recent years, some of the most acclaimed independently produced Filipino films premiered and competed at the QCinema International Film Festival.
These include Babyruth Villarama’s “Little Azkals,” Cha Escala and Wena Sanchez’s “Nick & Chai,” Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez’s “Apocalypse Child,” Prime Cruz’s “Sleepless,” Mihk Vergara’s “Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo,” Sheron Dayoc’s “Women of the Weeping River,” and one of this year’s surprise blockbusters, Victor Villanueva’s “Patay na si Hesus.”
This year, it looks like QCinema has selected another crop of compelling features. Although not all of the filmmakers are familiar names, five of them — namely Khavn dela Cruz, Emerson Reyes, Christopher Gozum, Pam Miras and Mikhail Red — have directed features. (Red’s “Birdshot” being the country’s official entry to this year’s Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film category.)
The three other filmmakers who are making their directorial debut are also industry veterans known for other capacities. Ballesteros is a musical scorer for films, Mayo is a screenwriter who also co-produced the acclaimed Cinemalaya feature “Kiko Boksingero,” while Lim was credited as co-writer of such films as “My Rebound Girl” and “Ninja Party.”
The festival will open on Oct. 19 and run until Oct. 28 at Gateway Cineplex, Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, Trinoma Mall Cinema, UP Town Centre Cinema, and Cinematheque Centre Manila.
Here are the teasers and trailers for the eight Circle Competition entries of this year’s QCinema International Film Festival, as posted online by SinePelikula.
