Everything You Need to Know About QCinema International Film Festival 2023

(SPOT.ph) Great movies are everywhere—it often just takes a good platform to showcase them. Enter the QCinema International Film Festival 2023, an annual film event featuring the best of cinema this November.

This year's edition of QCinema has over 60 diverse local and international films across 10 sections, many of which are Cannes, Venice, and Udine award-winners and Oscars entries. We can expect classics like A Clockwork Orange and Chungking Express, politically relevant dramas like Essential Truths of the Lake (for which John Lloyd Cruz won Best Actor at the 76th Locarno Film Festival), and the revival of the documentary section, QCDox.

The festival is set to run from November 17 to 26 in selected theaters across Metro Manila. Ticket prices have not been released, but screenings will take place at Gateway, Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Magnolia, and UP Town Center. You can find the screening schedules at the end of this article.

Also read: PH's Oscars Entry Iti Mapukpukaw Is Back on the Big Screen After Cinemalaya Win

Get to know the movies at QCinema International Film Festival 2023

The QCinema International Film Festival 2023 has 10 categories, so it's sure to have something for everyone. 

Asian Next Wave

A showcase of some of the most exciting Asian films from emerging filmmakers at the onset of their career as storytellers, including Abang Adik, Gitling, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Last Shadow at First Light, Love is a Gun, Mimang, Solids by the Seashore, and Tiger Stripes.

QC Shorts

Shorts competition by Filipino filmmakers—produced by QCinema—in their world premieres, including A Catholic School Girl, Abutan Man Tayo ng Houselights, Animal Lovers, Microplastics, Tamgohoy, and Tumawa, Umiyakk.

QCSEA Shorts

Ten short films were selected to compete out of 380 entries received from all over Southeast Asia, a new staple added to QCinema’s programming. It includes Basri And Salma In a Never-Ending Comedy, Buoyant, I Look Into The Mirror And Repeat Myself, MOP, and The Altar.

Screen International

This is a collection of the best films from the most distinguished film festivals, including Afire, All of Us, Critical Zone, Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World, Evil Does Not Exist, Fallen Leaves, Perfect Days, Poor Things, Sweet Dreams, and The Taste of Things.

Special Screenings

International movies with QCinema as its Philippine premiere include Daaaaaali!, Essential Truths of the Lake, Foe, Irreversible: Straight Cut, Karaoke, Only the River Flows, Raging Grace, Strange Way of Life/The Human Voice, and The Breaking Ice.

Rainbow QC

Representation matters, which is why QCinema was intentional about making a dedicated section for movies that explore LGBTQ+ themes, including Mutt, Passages, Peter von Kant, and Woman Of…

QC Dox

The documentary section has been rebirthed with this interesting lineup of three real-life stories: Divine Factory, National Anarchist: Lino Brocka, and Nowhere Near.

New Horizons

This category features five acclaimed directorial film debuts, including City of Wind, Foremost by Night, Scrapper, Through the Night, and Women from Rote Island.

Restored Classics

This category features classic films that have recently gone under digital restoration, including A Clockwork Orange, Chungking Express, Enter the Dragon, and Fallen Angels. All four movies will be screened in 4K.

Before Midnight

Saving the most thrilling for last. This category features suspense films that are screened...well, before midnight. There's Femme, Hungry Ghost Diner, Red Rooms, and River.

QCinema screening schedule

Screenings are scattered throughout November 18 to 26 at Gateway, Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Magnolia, and UP Town Center. November 17 movies are only by invitation, so we won't be including that here.

Do note that the movie schedules can be subject to change, so it's best to check in with the respective mall cinemas to be sure.

November 18

November 19

November 20

November 21

November 22

November 23

November 24

November 25

November 26

For more information, visit QCinema's official website.