QCinema 2025 Unveils the Film City

By Boy Romero 

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, featuring more than 80 films 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.


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 Audie

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