Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s ‘Cloud’ and ‘Directors’ Factory Philippines’ Omnibus Set to Anchor QCinema Festival

Naman Ramachandran The Philippines‘ QCinema International Film Festival has locked its 12th edition lineup, with Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s “Cloud” — Japan’s submission for the 97th Academy Awards — set to close the November event. The festival opens with “Directors’ Factory Philippines,” an eight-filmmaker omnibus collaboration with Cannes Directors’ Fortnight that pairs Filipino directors with counterparts from across Asia.

The omnibus features four films: Eve Baswel and Malaysia’s Gogularaajan Rajendran direct “Walay Balay”; Maria Estela Paiso teams with India’s Ashok Vish for “Nightbirds”; Arvin Belarmino collaborates with Cambodia’s Lomorpich Rithy on “Silig”; and Don Eblahan partners with Singapore’s Tan Siyou for “Cold Cut.” The Quezon City-based fest will unspool 77 titles, including 55 features and 22 shorts, across 11 sections under this year’s theme “The Gaze.” In the main competition Asian Next Wave, eight features compete: Duong Dieu Linh’s Venice Critics’ Week grand prize winner “Don’t Cry Butterfly” (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore); Nelicia Low’s “Pierce” (Taiwan, Poland, Singapore), which took best director at Karlovy Vary; and Elizabeth Lo’s documentary “Mistress Dispeller” (China, U.S.), winner of Venice’s Netpac award. Neo Sora brings Venice premiere “Happyend” (Singapore, U.K., U.S.), while “Tale of the Land” (Indonesia, Philippines, Qatar, Taiwan) arrives with Busan’s Fipresci prize.

Rounding out the competition are Venice main competition entry “Stranger Eyes” by Yeo Siew Hua (Singapore, France, Taiwan, U.S.), who previously won the category in 2018 for “A Land Imagined”; Cannes Un Certain Regard selection “Viet and Nam” by Truong Minh Quy (Vietnam, Philippines, Switzerland); and Bor Ocampo’s “Moneyslapper” (Philippines), making its world premiere. Screen International, the festival’s flagship showcase, presents works from established auteurs including Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner “Anora,” Pedro Almodóvar’s Venice Golden Lion recipient “The Room Next Door,” Payal Kapadia’s Cannes Grand Prix winner “All We Imagine as Light” and Filipino director Lav Diaz’s “Phantosmia.” The event expands its QCShorts competition beyond the Philippines