2015 QCinema International Film Festival
By Ruben Marasigan
Umabot ng 168 films ang natanggap na entries ng Quezon City Film Development Council for this year’s QCinema International Film Festival which will have it’s run from October 22 to 31, 2015. Noong Martes, June 30 ay ini-announce na ang napiling walong pelikulang nakapasok sa Circle Competition at ang limang nakapasok sa DoQC Documentary line up.
Ginanap ang press launch para rito noong Martes, June 30, sa Gloria Maris, sa 4th floor ng gateway Mall sa Araneta Center, sa Cubao, Quezon City. Pinangunahan ito ni Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte na siyang chairperson din ng Quezon City Film Development Commission.
Kabilang sa mga nakapasok para sa Circle Competition ng QCinema International Film Festival ang “Water Lemon ni Lemule Lorca, “Kapatiran,” ni Pepe Diokno, “Iisa,” by Chuck Gutierrez, “Patintero: Ang Alamat Ni Meng Patalo” by Mihk Vergara, “Gayuma,” ni Cesar Hernando, “Sleepless,” ni Prime Cruz, “MatangTubig,” by Jeff Leyco, at “Ang Huling Habagat,” ni Mario Cornejo.
Ang mga napiling mga documentary films naman ay ang “Of Cats, Dogs, Farm Animals, and Sashimi,” by Perry Dizon, “The Crescent Rising,” by Sheron Dayoc, “Audio Perpetua,” by Universe Baldoza, “Translacion: Ang Paglakad Sa Altar Ng Alanganin,” by Will Fredo, and “Bingat,” by Choy Pangilinan, Cubry Quesada, Joolia Demigillo, and Abet Umil.
These films will receive funding of 200 thousand pesos each and will compete with five other Asian features for the Pylon award of the DoQC International Documentary Competition. The DoQC International Documentary Competition signals QCinema’s thrust in putting the spotlight on local documentary filmmaking.
Pahayag ni Vice Mayor Joy during the media launch… “We in Quezon City have been promising that the next year will be better than the previous year.
And this year, I’m very proud to say that the Quezon City government has kept its promise. And this will be the biggest film festival that we have had.
In fact, the city government has allocated 22 million pesos for this year’s film festival. Which is in line with the thrust of our city government to transform Quezon City into… ‘The Art & Culture Capital of the country.’ So one of our strategies includes helping and supporting our young filmmakers. And we’re grateful for the 168 entries that we have received. And we hope and pray that we could give more grants. Unfortunately, this is not possible this year. We could only make eight. Hopefully next year, we’re praying for this. And since we are known for keeping our promises, we will have more next year.”
“Our venues will include Gateway Mall, the UP Film Instute, Trinoma, and the new soon to open Quezon City Interactive Museum where we’ll have two theaters there specifically for indie filmmakers. So even after this festival, I’d like to assure all of our young filmmakers that our museum will be opening at the Quezon Memorial Circle anytime soon. And with that I would just like to assure everybody that we’re very serious with our advocacy to really transform Quezon City and make it a haven for artists and culture enthusiasts. We are on our way to becoming the center of arts and culture. In at least at the northern part of Metro Manila. Rest assured that as long as Mayor Herbert Bautista and myself are here, this will be one of the flagship projects of our administration.”
