From 'Parasite' in black and white to 'Babae at Baril': Here's the lowdown on QCinema International Film Festival 2020
Old and modern collides in this year's edition of the annual QCinema International Film Festival running from November 27 to December 6.
And we're not just talking about the films.
The festival - founded in 2013 by the Quezon City Film Development Foundation (QCFDC) - will combine both online and physical screening to mark its latest installment.
The physical screening will be held at an outdoor venue in Quezon City from November 27 until November 28 on a by-invitation-only arrangement. Social distancing will be strictly enforced as well.
However, film fans can watch the festival's specially curated line-up of films via the newly launched online streaming platform, Upstream.ph.
“Like many other film festivals around the world, we've had to adapt to the unprecedented challenges of 2020,” said festival director, Ed Lejano, in a statement.
“Factoring in safety concerns and restrictions, we've decided to follow the global trend of staging a hybrid film festival.”
The festival will also carry side events like the ceremonial turnover of the COVID-19 assistance grant, and the announcement of the winners of its COVID Completion Grant to independent film producers and directors whose projects were halted because of the pandemic.
The winners of the festival's QCShort Shorts Competition will also be announced.
The festival will also host the book launch of Philippine Cinema by Gaspar Vibal and Dennis Villegas, and edited by Teddy Co.
There will also be online talks on the state and future of cinema today.
But the stars of the festival are of course the eclectic mix of movies to be offered throughout the ten-day festival.
Here are just some of the movies included in this year's QCinema International Film Festival. Unless otherwise stated, the films mentioned below are available for viewing online.
Parasite (monochromatic version)
Source: QCinema
You've seen the film in vibrant colors, but how about seeing it in black and white format? The monochromatic version of Bong Joon-ho's award-winning movie was first released at the Rotterdam Film Festival last January. The film will be screened during the opening and by-invitation-only. Unfortunately, it won't be streamed online.
Death of Nintendo
Source: QCinema
This coming of age film follows the story of four friends on a journey to self-discovery. The movie teems with pop culture references including classic video games. Death of Nintendo premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival this year. The movie will be screened on by-invitation-only.
Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
Source: QCinema
This independent (and controversial) film directed by poet and filmmaker, Khavn De La Cruz, goes back to the 1901 brutal massacre carried out by the Americans in Balangiga and Samar in Leyte. The film was released in 2017 and had won awards both in the Philippines abroad.
Genus, Pan
Source: QCinema
Also referred to as Lahi, Hayop, this Lav Diaz film shows how human beings are also like animals. The movie won Lav Diaz the best director award at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.
Roh
Source: QCinema
Scare flick fans will enjoy this 2019 Malaysian indie arthouse horror film by Emir Ezwan. Roh
Source: QCinema
Recent Urian Best Actress winner Janine Gutierrez stars in this psycho-action film directed by Rae Red. The film tells the story of a timid saleslady who transformed overnight after finding a gun on her doorstep.
Song Without a Name
Source: QCinema
This 2019 Peruvian movie is directed by Melina León. It was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. It is also the Peruvian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Mulholland Drive
Source: QCinema
This remastered version of the 2001 David Lynch film will make its Philippine premiere. The movie tells the story of an aspiring actress named Betty Elms who meets and befriends an amnesiac woman who is recovering from a car accident.
Completing this year's line-up of critically-acclaimed films are Identifying Features, Cleaners, Oda sa Wala, Corpus Christi, Divine Love, True Mothers, Rom, Midnight in a Perfect World, Marygoround, Suk Suk, and End of the Century.
The festival's online screening will be released nationwide through Upstream.ph. Tickets may be purchased online on GMovies.ph for P150 per movie. Viewers can also avail of the bundle offer for P750 inclusive of access to five films and QCinema merchandise.
For more information, visit QCinema's website.