‘City of Stars’ lives up to billing with QCinema

Living up to its billing as the “City of Stars,” Quezon City is making headway as an able host of international film competitions with the recent opening of the 10-day QCinema International Film Festival.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government project had become a much-awaited “indie” film competition since its first staging five years ago through the initiative of Mayor Herbert Bautista and with the support of the city council headed by majority leader Franz Pumaren.

Kicking off on Oct 19, this year’ festival opened with the world’s first “painted” film, “Loving Vincent,” at Vertis North and is set to close with the digital comeback of Mike de Leon’s classic, “Batch ’81.”

Competing entries fall under four categories: the Circle Competition (for eight grant-funded films), the QC Shorts (for short films), Rainbow QC (for LGBT-themed films from around the world), and Asian Next Wave (for up-and-coming Asian filmmakers who had done three features or less).

Screenings will be at Gateway Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Ayala Malls Cinemas in Trinoma and UP Town Center from Oct. 19 to 28, and at Cinematheque Centre Manila from Oct. 24 to 28.

Digitally remastered films under ABS-CBN’s Restoration Project are also being presented. These include “High School Scandal” by Gil Portes, “Karma” by Danny Zialcita, and “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” by Mario O’ Hara.

More critically acclaimed films from across the globe are lined up under noncompetition sections (Screen International and International Shorts).

QCinema is held in cooperation with the Quezon City Film Development Commission headed by director Ed Lejano.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/QuezonCityFilmFest/.