77 films, one vision: The best of QCinema International Film Festival 2024

QCinema 2024 opens with Directors’ Factory Philippines, an ambitious omnibus film project in collaboration with Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Set in the historic city of Dapitan, this initiative pairs eight filmmakers from the Philippines and neighbouring countries, mentoring them as they co-write and co-direct four short films.

Eve Baswel and Gogularaajan Rajendran present Walay Balay, a poignant tale of a mother and daughter seeking refuge during wartime. Maria Estela Paiso and Ashok Vish follow with Nightbirds, where the mystical Tigmamanukan bird offers a woman a way out of a toxic marriage. Silig, directed by Arvin Belarmino and Lomorpich Rithy, takes a darker turn, following a terminally ill woman who plans her own cremation. Rounding out the collection, Don Eblahan and Tan Siyou’s Cold Cut offers a surreal story of a talent show audition, blending local cast and community spirit. 

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cloud brings QCinema to a reflective close. This gripping film follows Yoshii Ryosuke, a young man whose seemingly mundane online business spirals into a series of cyber incidents, blurring the lines between virtual anonymity and real-world peril. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival and chosen as Japan’s entry for the Oscars, Cloud is an introspective journey that explores the complexities of identity in the digital age.

Lost Sabungeros delves into the underground world of cockfighting, where fortunes are made and lives are lost. When the pandemic forced arenas to shut down, the blood sport migrated online, turning cockfighters into overnight millionaires. But this high-stakes world took a dark turn when over thirty men mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Bryan Brazil’s documentary captures the eerie silence of a centuries-old tradition upended by modern greed, leaving behind questions that linger like ghosts.

Hilarion Zabala suffers from a mysterious, recurring olfactory issue—a phantom smell that haunts him relentlessly. His psychiatrist suspects it’s phantosmia, a condition linked to a deep psychological wound. To find a cure, Hilarion is forced to confront the darkest parts of his past as a former military officer, leading him back to the remote and eerie island of Pulo.

Lav Diaz’s film delves into the intersection of trauma, memory, and redemption, with powerful performances by Ronnie Lazaro, Janine Gutierrez, and Hazel Orencio.

In Don’t Cry Butterfly, a suburban housewife discovers her husband’s infidelity, but instead of confronting him, she turns to voodoo to reclaim his love. Set in early 2000s Hanoi, Duong Dieu Linh’s Venice Critics’ Week Grand Prize winner weaves magical realism into a story of quiet defiance and heartache. The film’s lush visuals and emotional depth make it a standout entry in QCinema’s Asian Next Wave Competition.

Elizabeth Lo’s Mistress Dispeller offers a fascinating look into a burgeoning industry in China—hiring professionals to break up affairs. This documentary follows a woman who infiltrates her husband’s secret life in a desperate attempt to salvage her marriage. With unflinching intimacy, Lo captures the emotional complexity of betrayal and the moral ambiguities of the mistress dispeller’s work. Premiering in Venice, this film is as compelling as it is unsettling.

Bor Ocampo’s Moneyslapper is a satirical dark comedy that follows Daniel, a lottery winner who returns to his hometown in Pampanga seeking redemption. Played by John Lloyd Cruz, Daniel’s search for home becomes a journey through the fractured lives of those from his past, unfolding like a slow revelation. Ocampo's clever narrative style invites the audience to question notions of luck, wealth, and belonging in a place where fortunes shift as fast as a winning lottery ticket.

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Afternoons of Solitude takes us into the quiet, contemplative world of bullfighting, where isolation and spectacle collide. Albert Serra’s award-winning documentary lingers on the silences between actions, focusing on the existential struggles faced by the toreros. 

In his English-language debut, Pedro Almodóvar presents The Room Next Door, a riveting drama adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through. Starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, this Golden Lion-winning film explores the depths of human connection, grief, and intimacy as two women bond over life’s most painful truths.

In Tale of the Land, a young Dayak girl grapples with the trauma of her parents’ death in a land conflict. Nurtanio Arius’s stunning debut intertwines the spiritual and physical landscapes of indigenous life, presenting a haunting meditation on displacement and survival. With breathtaking cinematography and a deeply moving narrative, this film offers a poignant look at the ongoing battle between tradition and modernity.

Soi Cheang’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In plunges viewers into the chaotic heart of Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City. In this high-octane action drama, troubled youth Chan Lok-kwun finds unexpected order amidst the city’s apparent lawlessness. As he navigates its dark alleys, Chan learns life-changing lessons about loyalty, survival, and identity. 

In Room in a Crowd, John Torres offers an introspective look at the isolation and disconnection that defined the lockdown era. Blending experimental visuals with a live sound performance, the film creates a fragmented, poetic narrative that mirrors the complexities of modern digital existence. Torres’ exploration of personal and collective memory feels especially resonant in a world still grappling with the effects of global separation.

Inspired by José Rizal’s unfinished third novel, Makamisa: Phantasm of Revenge delves into the darker aspects of history and colonialism. Khavn’s surreal storytelling style brings a hallucinatory edge to this tale of vengeance and justice. Visceral, unsettling, and provocative, the film’s visual audacity and narrative confrontations push the boundaries of cinematic expression. Winner of Best Feature at the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival, Makamisa is a must-watch for those seeking bold, genre-defying cinema.

In Alaga, a grieving woman grapples with loss as she attempts to raise a deformed creature as her child. Nicole Rosacay’s poignant short explores the depths of maternal instinct and the emotional complexities of grief, weaving together a story that is both unsettling and tender. With Jansen Magpusao and Madeleine Nicolas delivering powerful performances, Alaga examines the blurred lines between reality and longing in a world shaped by personal tragedy. This haunting film makes its world premiere at QCinema, offering a unique perspective on healing and love.

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