The 12th QCinema International Film Festival culminated on Wednesday with a star-studded awards night, recognizing outstanding achievements in filmmaking.
Actor John Lloyd Cruz and the Vietnamese film ‘Viet and Nam’ emerged as the evening’s top honorees.
Cruz won the Best Lead Performance award for his role in ‘Moneyslapper,’ sharing the accolade with Shenina Cinnamon for Indonesia’s ‘Tale of the Land.’ The jury commended Cruz for his “fearless portrayal, bringing depth and intensity to the film’s dark humor and unconventional social critique.” His win solidifies his reputation as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
Trương Minh Quý’s ‘Viet and Nam,’ a co-production between Vietnam, the Philippines, and European partners, clinched the Best Picture prize in the Asian Next Wave category. The jury lauded the film for “conjuring the haunting presence of trauma and memories embedded within the landscape, and tenderly following a romance that unfolds deep within the coal mines.” The film previously premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard.
Dương Diệu Linh’s debut feature ‘Don’t Cry Butterfly,’ about a middle-aged wife’s mystical journey after discovering her husband’s infidelity, earned the Grand Jury Prize. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Lo was named Best Director for her documentary ‘Mistress Dispeller,’ which the jury hailed for “setting a new benchmark for documentary storytelling in our festival’s history.”
Filipino filmmaker Gilb Baldoza won Best Short Film in the QC Shorts International category for ‘Kinakausap ni Celso ang Diyos.’ The film also received the QCinema Critics Lab Young Critics Prize. Kukay Bautista Zinampan’s ‘Rampage! (O Ang Parada)’ earned the Gender Sensitivity Award, highlighting inclusivity and diversity in storytelling.
Complete List of Winners:
Asian Next Wave
Best Picture: Viet and Nam by Trương Minh Quý
Grand Jury Prize: Don’t Cry, Butterfly by Dương Diệu Linh
Best Director: Elizabeth Lo for Mistress Dispeller
Best Lead Performance:
John Lloyd Cruz for Moneyslapper
Shenina Cinnamon for Tale of the Land
Best Screenplay: Happyend by Neo Sora
Artistic Achievement Award: Marcus Cheng and Hsu Kuei-Ting for Pierce
QC Shorts International
Best Short Film: Kinakausap ni Celso ang Diyos by Gilb Baldoza
Special Mention: Are We Still Friends? by AI Ridwan
Jury Prize: Washhh by Mickey Lai
Gender Sensitivity Award: Rampage! (O Ang Parada) by Kukay Bautista Zinampan
Special Awards
New Horizons Prize for Best First Film: Toxic by Saule Bliuvaite
NETPAC Jury Prize for Best Asian First Film: Cu Li Never Cries by Pham Ngoc Lan
RainbowQC Prize for Best LGBTQ Film:
Sebastian by Mikko Mäkelä
Baby by Marcelo Caetano
Special Mention RainbowQC Prize: My Sunshine by Hiyoshi Okuyama
Alexis Tioseco and Nika Bohinc Award for Film Criticism: Ligaya Villablanca
A Platform for Diverse Voices
The QCinema International Film Festival has once again showcased the breadth and depth of Asian cinema, providing a platform for bold, compelling, and diverse storytelling.
