QCinema returns to the big screen for 2021 edition

Cinemas are now reopening and movie fans couldn't be happier.

Gateway Cineplex 10 in Cubao, Quezon City is hosting the screenings to complement the online streaming for this year.

Opening the festival is Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Memoria starring Tilda Swinton. The critically-acclaimed film was Cannes Festival 2021 Jury Prize winner and Colombian entry to the 94th Academy Awards.

Making up the festival's Screen International category are the films: The Worst Person in the World, The Box; Happening; Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash; Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy; and Drive My Car.

All critically-acclaimed films are recognized by various award-giving bodies from around the world, making them a must-see.

Also included in this year's lineup are Great Freedom under RainbowQC section; Lamb under New Horizons section; and Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle and Historya ni Ha under Special Screenings.

Sebastian Meise's Great Freedom will make its Asian premiere at the festival. The movie is the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner at the Cannes Film Festival 2021 and Austrian entry to the 94th Academy Awards.

Also making its Asian debut is the Scandinavian folk-horror film and Cannes Un Certain Regard Prize of Originality award winner, Lamb.

Philippine history buffs are in for a treat with the World War II biopic Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle by Arthur Harari.

The movie follows the story of a Japanese soldier who spent 30 years hiding in the Philippine jungle unaware that World War II was over.

Rounding up the Special Screenings list is Lav Diaz's Historya ni Ha starring John Lloyd Cruz.

The movie had its world premiere at the prestigious 65th BFI London Film Festival in the United Kingdom.

QCinema will also exhibit for free handpicked Patrick Alcedo films, namely, A Will to Dream, They Call Me Dax, and Am I Being Selfish.

Rolling out for the first time is the #QCShorts and Asian Shorts dedicated to short films from Southeast Asia including the Philippines.

#QCShorts feature Skylab by Chuck Escasa, Ampangabagat Nin Talakba Ha Likol by Maria Estela Paiso; i get so sad sometimes by Trishtan Perez; MIGHTY ROBO V by Miko Livelo and Mihk Vergara; Henry by Kaj Palanca; and City of Flowers by Xeph Suarez.

The Asian Shorts, on the other hand, present the films Dear to Me by Monica Vanesa Tedja, Sunrise in My Mind by Danech San, New Abnormal by Sorayos Prapapa, and Live In Cloud-Cuckoo Land by Vũ Minh Nghĩa and Phạm Hoàng Minh Thy.

Premiering in the Philippines is How to Die Young in Manila by Petersen Vargas and Filipiñana by Rafael Manuel.

Meanwhile, films included in this year's online screening are My Salinger Year, The Great Movement, Miracle, Apples, Magnetic Beats, El Planeta, among others.

For more details about the festival, visit www.qcinema.ph. Check out also QCinema's social media accounts for all the latest updates.

Take a look at the opening of QCinema International Film Festival 2020 in this gallery.