(SPOT.ph) In case you haven’t already figured it out, we love movies. And we love telling people about movies. This year, moviegoers will have more exciting flicks to look forward to with the Quezon City Film Festival, happening from November 5 to 11 at TriNoma. Now on its second year, QCinema will feature an impressive lineup of local, documentary, and international films. We’ve narrowed the selection down to 10 highlights you shouldn’t miss.
1. Leviathan
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
The controversial Russian film is a compelling drama on the corruption and intimidation that hound contemporary Russia. This modern reinterpretation of the biblical story of Job explores the struggles of a Russian man against a corrupt system. Zvyagintsev and Oleg Negin won the award for Best Screenplay at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
2. Two Days, One Night
Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
The Dardenne brothers are no strangers to profound films that revolve around individuals faced with tragic and difficult circumstances. This time, they tell the story of Sandra (Marion Cotillard), a depressed woman on the brink of unemployment. Her only hope of keeping her job is to persuade a majority of her co-workers to forgo their bonuses ahead of an official vote on Monday morning.
3. Oldboy
Director: Park Chan-Wook
QCinema will be paying tribute to director Park Chan-Wook by featuring his unforgettable "The Vengeance Trilogy." Oldboy is the second installment of the series, and follows the story of Oh Dae-Su (Min-sik Choi), who is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing his captor’s motives.
4. Lilet Never Happened
Director: Jacco Groen
This 2012 Dutch-Filipino film zeroes in on Lilet (Sandy Talag), a street child struggling to survive in Manila. A social worker named Claire (Johanna ter Steege) tries to safeguard her, but she stubbornly chooses to earn a living as a child prostitute. The film won the Best Youth Film award at the 2013 Copenhagen International Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award at the 16th Auburn Film Festival for Children and Young Adults.
5. Mommy
Director: Xavier Dolan
25-year-old Xavier Dolan has proven time and again that he is an actor and director with a strong vision. His fifth film centers on single mother Diane Despres (Anne Dorval) and her struggles raising her volatile son, Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon). The film competed for the Palme d’Or as part of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival "In Competition" selection, and won the Prix du Jury.
6. Bigkis
Director: Neal Tan
Bigkis is an honest look at the harsh and painful realities in overcrowded public hospitals. LJ Reyes plays Mariel, a young teenager dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and its difficult consequences. The film also stars Mike Tan, Rosanna Roces, Pancho Magno, and Lauren Young.
7. In Darkness We Live
Director: Christopher Ad Castillo
Director Christopher Ad Castillo’s latest film is less of a horror flick and more of a slasher-thriller involving a bank robbery gone wrong. The perpetrators go into hiding and find themselves in a dilapidated house, occupied by a mysterious young woman and her grandmother. When darkness hits, the gang realizes there’s nowhere to escape what’s waiting for them.
8. Mauban: Ang Resiko
Director: Lem Lorca
Written and directed by Lem Lorca, the film revolves around a small island community where residents set aside a portion of their salary for merriment. The celebration continues for seven days, and as each drop of alcohol is consumed, trouble begins to brew. The movie stars Alessandra de Rossi and Sid Lucero.
9. Tres
Director: William Mayo, Jose M. Carreon, and Edgardo Vinarao
Originally known as Sine Panitik, Tres is a trilogy of literary adaptations with the three filmmakers directing one segment each. It features three short stories written by three multi-awarded Filipino writers, namely Gregorio Brilliantes, Rogelio Sicat, and Fanny Garcia.
10. 1st Ko Si 3rd
Director: Real S. Florido
Easily the most familiar local entry, 1st Ko Si 3rd portrays the reunion of a 65-year-old woman and her first love. Finally, their long-overdue first date takes place...four decades after their separation. Nova Villa topbills this entry, which also won the Cinemalaya Best Actor award for Dante Rivero.
Tickets are priced at P100. For a complete list of films, schedules, and more information, visit QCinema's Facebook page. Catch QCinema 2014 from November 5 to 11 at TriNoma cinemas.