PH psycho-thriller ‘Untrue’ to open QCinema 2019; Vic del Rosario to get Lifetime Achievement Award
Acoming-ofage Philippine movie bagged the Jury Prize at the 2019 Baikal International Film Festival in Russia.
Directed by Iar Arondaing, “Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat Ng Digma” is about an old man who recounts the story of young Muslim girl Eshal (Junyka Sigrid Santarin). She is forced to hide in the forest with her infant brother, Affan, to escape the violence of the inter-familial dispute (locally called “Rido”) that has plagued her family. In the forest, he meets Farhan (JM Salvado) with whom she develops a friendship as they wait for adults to find them and bring them back to their families.
The movie also won the best cinematography trophy (for Mac Cosico) at the Figueira da Foz-Film Art Festival 2019 in Portugal early this month.
“Musmos Na Sumibol Sa Gubat Ng Digma” was originally released as part of the 2018 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Sound in the full-length feature film category.
SIGRID BERNARDO’S “Untrue” starring Cristine Reyes and Xian Lim is the opening film at QCinema International Film Festival.
The psycho-thriller shot in Georgia-Russia is about abused wife, Mara, who seeks the help of the police against her husband. As she narrates how she married a lunatic, her husband, Joachim also defends himself and tells his own version of the events.
The closing film this year is “Wet Season” by Singaporean director Anthony Chen. It is the follow-up to his criticallyacclaimed film, “Iloilo.”
Rising Wave
QCinema will see the world premieres, not only for the three Filipino features in the Asian Next Wave competition, but also for new local shorts and documentaries, who all received grants from QCinema, where filmmakers own the rights to their films.
The Filipino features are Arnel Barbarona’s “Kaaway Sa Sulod,” Rae Red’s “Babae At Baril,” and Glenn Barit’s “The Cleaners.”
The QCShorts lineup features “Judy Free” by Jean Cheryl Tagyamon; “Tokwifi” by Carla Pulido Ocampo; “Here, Here” by Joanne Cesario; “SPID” by Alejo Barbaza and Mervine Aquino; “Excuse Me, Miss, Miss, Miss” by Sonny Calvento; and “Isang Daa’t Isang Mariposa” by Norvin de los Santos.
The Filipino documentaries are “They Are For My Alien Friend” by Jet Leyco, “A Is For Agustin” by Grace Pimentel Simbulan, and “Spring By The Sea” by Aleia Garcia.
International Selections
Five other films will showcase Asian talents at the Asian Next Wave. These are “NakornSawan” by Puangsoi Aksornsawang, Thailand; “Ave Maryam” by Robby Ertanto, Indonesia; “Fly By Night” by Zahir Omar, Malaysia; “The Long Walk” by Mattie Do, Laos; and “Suburban Birds” by Sheng Qiu, China.
Three criticallyacclaimed Asian docs round up the noncompetitive documentary section. These are “The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil” by Pham Thu Hang, Vietnam; “Talking About Trees” by Suhaib Gasmelbari, Sudan; and “Kabul, City In The Wind” by Aboozar Amini, Afghanistan.
New section
New Horizons is a platform for debut films or second features from around the world. It explores a range of genres such as “The Bare Necessity” by Erwan De Luc; “Buoyancy” by Rodd Rathjen; “Homeward” by Nariman Aliev; “The Red Phallus” by Tashi Gyeltshen; “Chola” by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan; and “System Crasher” by Nora Fingscheidt.
Rainbow roster
Continuing its partnership with FDCP in promoting equality and representation, QCinema will screen six films representing the LGBTQ spectrum in the section, RainbowQC.
These are “Venice Queer Lion Winner Jose” by Li Cheng); “Song Lang” by Leon Le; “Port Authority” by Danielle Lessovitz; “Where We Belong” by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee; “And Then We Danced” by Levan Akin; and the Berlinale Teddy awardee, “Brief Story From The Green Planet” by Santiago Loza.
Centennial celebration
Part of the centennial celebration of Philippine cinema are QCinema sections reflecting the rich heritage of classic and mainstream works by major directors, including the country’s national artists for film.
Centenial Classics will feature digitally restored films by ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project and FDCP. Part of the list are “Biyaya Ng Lupa” by Manuel Silos; “Malvarosa” by Gregorio Fernandez; “Insiang” and “Maynila Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag” by Lino Brocka; “Noli Me Tangere” by Gerardo de Leon; and “Tisoy” by Ishmael Bernal.
A Special Life Achievement Award will be presented to Vicente del Rosario Jr., who established Viva Entertainment as one of the main, enduring pillars in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years.
QCinema is presenting the section, Viva Classics, in recognition of his outstanding contributions of “Boss Vic,” as he is fondly called, to the industry. Three of the previous decades’ well-loved hits will be shown: “Bituing Walang Ningning” by Emmanuel H. Borlaza; “Scorpio Nights 2” by Erik Matti; and “Working Girls” by Ishmael Bernal.
• • •
QCinema runs from Oct. 13 to 22 and the movies will be shown at the Gateway Mall, Ayala Trinoma, Robinsons Galleria, UPFI Cine Adarna, Cinema 76 Anonas, and Cinema Centenario.