The Philippines‘ QCinema International Film Festival is gearing for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival with the global launch of QCinema Industry, a year-round professional platform that aims to position Quezon City as Southeast Asia’s premier film hub.

The expansion marks a significant evolution for the 13-year-old festival as it seeks to deepen the region’s presence in the global content ecosystem by fostering co-production, talent development and policy dialogue across the Philippine and Southeast Asian film sectors.

“We’re proud to present QCinema Industry at Cannes, the world’s most prestigious film festival, to signal the growing impact and ambition of Southeast Asian cinema,” said Liza Diño, who heads the new initiative.

Diño emphasized the program’s strong documentary focus: “A dedicated documentary section is essential in any world-class festival. It affirms the power of non-fiction storytelling to reveal truths, provoke dialogue, and drive social impact. Through initiatives like QCinema Dokyu Days, we recognize that documentaries are not just reflections of the world – but agents of change within it.”

The Cannes delegation signals QCinema’s dual strategy: spotlighting Filipino cinema internationally while curating standout global content for local audiences.

“Cannes has always been a place of discovery – where new voices in cinema are heard and celebrated,” said Ed Lejano, QCinema’s artistic director. “It’s where we find the kinds of films we bring home for Filipino audiences – works they might not otherwise see. At the same time, it’s where we connect our filmmakers with the global industry, while positioning QCinema as a vital Southeast Asian hub.”

The QCinema Project Market (QPM), now heading into its third edition, has already proven its worth as a regional talent incubator. Several former QPM selections have achieved international recognition, including “Don’t Cry, Butterfly,” which scored two awards at Venice and the QCinema grand jury prize, and “Tale of the Land,” which captured the Fipresci prize at Busan’s New Currents section.

Set to run Nov. 17-23 in Quezon City’s Araneta City district, the comprehensive program includes five key components. QCinema Dokyu Days (Nov. 17-18) will offer a two-day documentary focus featuring screenings and an Impact Lab with international mentors from Doc Society/GIPA. The QCinema Project Market (Nov. 19-22) will connect Southeast Asian projects in advanced development with potential co-producers, sales agents and financiers.

QCinema Asian Next Wave Film Forum (Nov. 22-23) will present panels exploring the Film City concept with emphasis on gender equity, sustainability and emerging technologies. “The concept of Film City goes beyond having sound stages and festivals – it’s about building ecosystems where cinema thrives, artists are supported, and culture drives urban transformation,” said Manet Dayrit, who leads the forum. “Quezon City’s commitment to this vision through QCinema Industry is a model worth watching.”

QCinema Creative Industries Day (Nov. 19) will host a summit on creative infrastructure, policy and Quezon City’s UNESCO Creative City of Film designation. The QCinema Critics Lab, running throughout the festival, will provide an immersive mentorship program for eight emerging Philippine film critics under 30, led by critic Jason Tan Liwag.

Meanwhile, “Bleat!” — a Malaysia-Philippines-France co-production directed by Ananth Subramaniam — is competing in this year’s Cannes Critics’ Week short film program, marking the first Malaysian short film ever selected for Cannes. Subramaniam previously won at QPM with his feature project “The Passport.”

In another milestone, Arvin Belarmino, whose feature project “Ria” was selected for QPM 2023, has his new work “Agapito” in the Cannes short film competition this year.