QCinema International Film Festival (QCinema) attracted young film aficionados during its 10-day run in various venues in Quezon City.
During the QCinema Awards Night, held at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center on Thursday, Vice Mayor Joy Belmxonte was proud to announce that the festival was bigger this year and was well received by younger audience.
“In Quezon City, the average age of the population is 24. And compared last year more young people headed to the cinemas to watch the film featured by the festival. Indeed, QCinema is the film fest for the millennials,” Belmonte told select cinephiles, film industry titans, and city government representatives who joined in the evening of indie film celebration.
The biggest winner of the night was Balangiga: Howling Wilderness, which was cited for its “solid vision, with sensitive performances paired with strong visual, aural and poetic narrative. It is an elegy to the tragic history of the Philippines as seen through the eyes of a boy that is both a celebration and a lamentation of humanity.”
The film won Best Picture, Best Director for Khavn, Best Actor for Justine Samson, and Best Supporting Actor for Pio Del Rio.
Dapol Tan Payawar Na Tayug 1931 (The Ashes and Ghosts of Tayug 1931) by Christopher Gozum won the “Circle Competition NETPAC Jury Award” and filmmaker Emerson Reyes, the creator of Dormitoryo (Walang Katapusang Kwarto), received the “Circle Competition Gender Sensitivity Award.
Another big winner was of the night was Mikhail Red’s Neomanila. It bagged the Best Artistic Achievement (Cinematography) award, and the Audience Choice Trophy.
Best Screenplay went to Andrian Legaspi and John Bedia for their notable work in The Chanters. The film’s star Jally Nae Gilbaliga, meanwhile won Best Actress.
Best Supporting Actress recognition was given to Sheenly Gener for her role in Dormitoryo (Walang Katapusang Kwarto).
In the QC Shorts roster, Babylon by Keith Deligero, took home the QC Shorts Best Picture award “for its humorous, quirky journey through Visayan landscapes and mindsets paired with very timely and serious political message.”
Gikan Sa Ngitngit Nga Kinailadman by Kiri Dalena won the QC Shorts Jury Prize and Phyllis Grande’s Kun ‘Di Man was presented with the Audience Choice Award.
QCinema raises a toast to foreign female directors as it presents an all-women slate of winners for its international competitions.
Close-Knit by Naoko Ogigami was recognized as the Rainbow QC Best Picture, while Eliza Hittman’s Beach Rats won the Rainbow QC Jury Prize. Mouly Surya’s Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts garnered the Asian Next Wave Best Film and Kiki Sugino collected the Asian Next Wave Jury Prize for her film Snow Woman.