QCinema Project Market reveals 20 films included in this year’s final selection

Image: QCinema Project Market

QCinema Project Market (QPM) unveiled the 20 feature film projects included in the final selection that will vie for over $400,000 (over P22 million) in grants and prizes. 

The announcement of selected projects was made alongside the launch of QPM, the official industry program of the QCinema Film Festival, during Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Content and Film Market last Oct. 10. 

Following is the list of selected projects:

“The Burning Giants” (Thailand)

Director: Phuttiphong Aroonpheng

Producer: Mai Meksawan

“The Sea Is Calm Tonight” (Vietnam)

Director: Lê Bảo

Producer: Weijei Lai

“The Fox King” (Malaysia)

Director: Woo Ming Jin

Producer: Edmund Yeo

“Trinity” (Singapore)

Director: Boo Junfeng

Producer: Raymond Phathanavirangoon

“The Beer Girl in Yangon” (Myanmar)

Director: Sein Lyan Tun

Producer: John Badalu Matulatan

“Don’t Cry Butterfly” (Vietnam)

Director: Duong Dieu Linh

Producer: Tan Si En

“Tale of the Land” (Indonesia)

Director: Loeloe Hendra

Producer: Yulia Evina Bhara

“The Drought” (Singapore)

Director: Nelson Yeo

Producer: Tan Si En and Sophia Sim

“Hold My Gaze” (Philippines)

Director: Carlo Catu

Producer: Bradley Liew & April Batican

“Underworld” (Philippines)

Director: Isabel Sandoval

Producer: Alemberg Ang

“Violet Flower” (Philippines)

Director: Jerome Zamora

Producer: Wilfedo Manalang

“Lost Memories in Transit” (Philippines)

Director: Austin Tan

Producer: Stelle Laguda

“The Boy and the Fight of Spiders” (Philippines)

Director: Jarell Serencio

Producer: Alex Poblete

“Filipiñana” (Philippines)

Director: Rafael Manuel

Producer: Jeremy Chua & Bradley Liew

“Cangrejos” (Philippines)

Director: Zurich Chan

Producer: Gale Osorio 

“Girl on the Turtle’s Back” (Philippines)

Director: Paul Sta. Ana

Producer: Alemberg Ang, Monica Montejo and Iana Celest Bernardez

“The Remotes” (Philippines)

Director: John Torres

Producer: John Torres

“Ella Arcangel: Ballad of Tooth and Claw” (Philippines)

Director: Mervin Malonzo

Producer: Emmanuel Angeles

“RIA” (Philippines)

Director: Arvin Belarmino

Producer: Kristine De Leon

“‘A’ Chasing ‘B'” (Philippines)

Director: Dan Villegas

Producer: Antoinette Jadaone

“We are so proud to have received so many project submissions from both established and upcoming names from the region,” Quezon City Film Development Commission (QCFDC) Executive Director and QPM Managing Director Liza Diño said.

“For our first year, we really hope to bring the Philippines and Southeast Asia together to connect and find partners in each other so we can bring these amazing and authentic stories to life. We’re also honored to bring investors, companies, film funders and decision makers from all over the region and the world to make this QPM a success for all the projects,” she added. 

Ed Lejano, QCinema Festival director, also underscored that the inaugural project market ramps up the QCinema Experience with loads of production grants in store.

“Our local grants were temporarily affected by the pandemic and it’s definitely back—with P3 million for three Filipino features and $35,000 for three Southeast Asian features. And with our numerous international partners, a lot more funding goodies will be up for grabs,” he stated. “With our new QCinema Project Market, these valuable financial packages can only boost the regional film industries to new heights.”

QCinema Film Foundation President Manet Dayrit, for her part, disclosed that the project market received 65 submissions and choosing only 20 from those was a “challenging yet inspiring process” for the selection committee.

“We were impressed by the immense talent and creative potential of the filmmakers in this region, and we hope that the QPM can help elevate these projects to fully realized films that we can soon enjoy on the big screen,” she said.

QPM and QCinema are also in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) for the provision of this year’s Co-Production Grants. The QPM will be hosted during the QCinema International Film Festival’s 11th year on Nov. 18 to 20.  /ra