QCinema 2025 Unveils the Film City

QCinema once again shines a spotlight on Quezon City’s vital role in the history and present of Philippine cinema as it unveils its full lineup for its 13th edition.

With the theme “Film City,” this year’s festival converges the best of world cinema across nine full-length sections and five shorts programs.

Many of this year’s selections reflect on the art of filmmaking itself—cinema about cinema, stories about storytellers, and the power of moving images to reshape how we see the world.

Opening the festival is Couture by Alice Winocour, starring Angelina Jolie. A film within a film, Couture follows an American filmmaker arriving in Paris for Fashion Week.

Competition Sections

Leading this year’s QCinema lineup are its competition sections: Asian Next Wave, the main competition spotlighting powerful new voices from Asia; RainbowQC, a platform for queer perspectives that challenge and inspire; New Horizons, which showcases debut and second features pushing the boundaries of global cinema; and QCShorts International, which spotlights emerging directors from Southeast Asia working in the short film format.

Competing in the Asian Next Wave are:

A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany) — Grand Prix, Cannes Critics Week 2025 and Thai Entry for the Best International Feature Film, 98th Academy Awards;
Diamonds in the Sand by Janus Victoria (Japan, Malaysia, Philippines) — White Mulberry Award for Best Debut Film, Udine Far East Film Festival 2025;
Family Matters by Pan Ke-yin (Taiwan) — Southeast Asian premiere, Uncaged Award for Best Feature Film, New York Asian Film Festival;
Ky Nam Inn by Leon Le (Vietnam) — Southeast Asian premiere;
Lost Land by Akio Fujimoto (Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany) — Southeast Asian premiere; Special Jury Prize in the Venice Horizons section of the 2025 Venice Film Festival;
Luz by Flora Lau (China, Hong Kong) — Nominee for Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema – Dramatic) at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival;
Open Endings by Nigel Santos (Philippines)— Southeast Asian premiere, Best Ensemble Performance at the 21st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival;
Renoir by Chie Hayakawa (Japan) — Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival;
The World of Love by Yoon Ga-Eun (South Korea) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of the Roberto Rossellini Award: Jury Award and the Audience Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival.

The closing film will be the winner of the Asian Next Wave Best Film award.

CreaZion Studios Showcases Upcoming Projects at 2025 Artists Press Conference

Selected for the RainbowQC competition are:

3670 by Park Joon-Ho (South Korea) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of Best Actor Prize, Disruption Support Prize, CGV Award, and the WAtcha’s Award at the Jeonju International Film Festival;
Bel Ami by Geng Jun (France, Taiwan) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Leading Actor, and Best Narrative Feature (Audience Choice Award) at the Golden Horse Awards;
Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingoes by Diego Céspedes (Chile) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of the Un Certain Regard Award at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and Chile’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature;
On the Road by David Pablos (Mexico) — Asian premiere, Winner of the Queer Lion and the Venice Horizons Award at the 81st Venice International Film Festival;
Skin of Youth by Ash Mayfair (Vietnam, Singapore, Japan) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of Special Jury Award at the 24th New York Asian Film Festival;
Strange River by Jaume Claret Muxart (Spain, Germany) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of the Golden Puffin at the 22nd Reykjavik International Film Festival;
Summer’s Camera by Divine Sung (South Korea) — film within a film, Winner of the Wavemaker Award Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival;
The Little Sister by Hafsia Herzi (France, Germany) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of the Queer Palm and the Best Actress prize at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

Part of the New Horizons competition lineup are:

Amoeba by Siyou Tan (Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea) — Winner of Cinephilia Critics’ Award and Youth Jury Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival;
Blue Heron by Sophy Romvari (Canada, Hungary, USA) — Film within a film, Winner of the Swatch First Feature Award at the 78th Locarno Film Festival and Best Canadian Discovery Award at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival;
Brand New Landscape by Danzuka Yuiga (Japan) — Southeast Asian premiere, World premiere in the Director’s Fortnight section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival;
Chronology of Water by Kristen Stewart (USA, France, Latvia) — Southeast Asian premiere, World Premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival;
DJ Ahmet by Georgi Unkovski (North Macedonia, Czechia, Serbia, Croatia) — Southeast Asian premiere, Winner of World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award and Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival;
Lucky Lu by Lloyd Lee Choi (Canada, USA) — Southeast Asian premiere, World premiere in the Director’s Fortnight section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival;
Manas by Marianna Brennand (Brazil, Portugal) — Asian premiere, Winner of the Director’s Award at the Giornate degli Autori section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival;
On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian (Indonesia) — KB Vision Audience Award and FIPRESCI Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival;
The President’s Cake by Hasan Hadi (Iraq, USA, Qatar) — World premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2025; winner of the Audience Award and Caméra d’Or; Iraq’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature.

The QCShorts International competition lineup compose of twenty-one (21) titles, including the world premieres of six (6) short films who received the QCShorts 2025 grant earlier this year:

Hoy, Hoy, Ingat! (Hey, Hey, Take Care!) by Norvin de los Santos (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
Ours Was A Timeless Night Burning by Lauviah Caliboso (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
RUNO! by Racquel “Lysa” Catolico and Jazmine Gin Pateña (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
Si Kara: Ang Babaye Nga Nag Daba-Daba (Kara: The Burning Woman) by Dale (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
Surface Tension by The Serrano Sisters (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
Yelo by Gab Rosique (Philippines) — World Premiere, QCinema grantee;
A Metamorphosis by Lin Htet Aung (Myanmar) — Winner of Tiger Short Award at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025, Official Selection: Currents at New York Film Festival;
Agapito by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero (Philippines, France) — World premiere at Cannes Film Festival, Honorable Mention at Toronto International Film Festival;
As If To Nothing by Pek Jia Ho and Ang Jia Jung (Singapore);
Baby Fat by Margarita Mina (Philippines, USA) — World Premiere, 2025 National Board of Review Student Grant Winner;
Before the Sea Forgets by Lê Ngọc Duy (Singapore) — World premiere at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2025, Official Selection at Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Queer Lisboa, and Chéries-Chéris;
Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites by Chheangkea (Cambodia, France, USA) — Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction at Sundance Film Festival, Best Queer Short Award at Provincetown International Film Festival;
Honey, My Love, So Sweet by JT Trinidad (Philippines) — World premiere at Locarno Film Festival;
In the Valley by Lim Han Loong (Malaysia) — World premiere at Busan International Film Festival;
Little Rebels Cinema Club by Khozy Rizal (Indonesia) — Crystal Bear for Best Short Film (Children’s Jury Generation Kplus) at Berlinale, Best Live Action Short at Raindance Film Festival;
My Plastic Mother by Amar Haikal (Indonesia) — World premiere at Leeds International Film Festival;
Please P(r)ay Attention by Vasupol Suwanjuta (Thailand) — World premiere at Busan International Film Festival;
Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts by Rein Maychaelson (Indonesia) — World premiere at Berlinale, Krakow Silver Dragon Award, NYAFF Honorable Mention, Concorto Jury Special Award;
Visiting Heaven Gate by Nghiêm Quỳnh Trang (Vietnam, Czech Republic) — Special Mention at ShorTS International Film Festival;
Vox Humana by Don Josephus Eblahan (Philippines, USA, Singapore) — World premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, Winner of Silver Wolf for Best Short Film at Festival de Nouveau Cinema, Gold Hugo for Best Live Action Short Film at Chicago IFF, Student Jury Prize (Best International Film) at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Best Performance at Singapore IFF, Kurrak Grand Jury Prize, Best International Short Award at Odense IFF;
When the Blues Goes Marching In by Beny Kristia (Indonesia) — Minikino Film Week Best National Competition Award.

Exhibition Sections

Completing the lineup are QCinema Exhibition Sections, showcasing the breadth and diversity of world cinema.

The Screen International section, one of the festival’s most awaited, features acclaimed titles fresh from the global festival circuit. Before Midnight offers restored classics and rediscovered gems, while Rediscovery brings timeless masterpieces back to the big screen for a new generation. QC Selects celebrates homegrown films that have made waves in other local and international festivals. QCShorts International (Exhibition) spotlights the world’s most exciting auteurs working within the short film format.

Making their debut this year are Dokyu Days, QCinema’s new non-fiction showcase dedicated to powerful and thought-provoking documentaries, and Focus On: Sandra Hüller, spotlighting the extraordinary range of the acclaimed German actress.

This year’s lineup Screen International includes:

Couture by Alice Winocour (USA) — Opening film;
Divine Comedy by Ali Asgari (Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Turkey) — film within a film;
Hamnet by Chloé Zhao (USA, UK) — Winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival;
History of Sound by Oliver Hermanus (UK, USA, Sweden);
Little Amélie by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han (Belgium) — Winner of the Audience Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival;
Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Tarzan and Arab Nasser (Palestine, France) — film within a film, Winner of Best Director at the Un Certain Regard section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival;
Sirat by Oliver Laxe (Spain, France) — Jury Prize at the 78th Cannes Film Festival and Spain’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film;
The Mastermind by Kelly Reichardt (USA);
The Things You Kill by Alireza Kahatami (Turkey, Canada, France, Poland) — Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival and Canada’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film.

This year’s Before Midnight lineup includes:

The Garden of Earthly Delights by Morgan Knibbe (Netherlands, Philippines, Belgium) — Best Editing, Nederlands Film Festival;
Rabbit Trap by Bryn Chainey (USA, UK);
Ugly Stepsister by Emilie Blichfeldt (Norway, Poland, Sweden, Denmark).

Rediscovery brings back these beloved titles:

Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe (USA);
Linda Linda Linda by Nobuhiro Yamashita (Japan);
Showgirls by Paul Verhoeven (USA).

This year’s QC Selects lineup includes:

Call My Manager by Erik Matti (Philippines) — The first two episodes of the series set to stream on HBO Max;
Human Resource by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit (Thailand) — Premio Fondazione Fai Persona Lavoro Ambiente Award at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival;
Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus by Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian (Philippines);
Rental Family by Hikari (USA/Japan);