AFTER UNESCO AWARD, QC BARES NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY

"Nakakakilig palang sabihin yun," QC mayor Joy Belmonte beamed as she delivered her welcoming remarks during the opening night of the QCinema International Film Festival held at Gateway Cineplex 18, Araneta City.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

From left: QCinema Film Foundation president Manet Dayrit, QC Tourism Department head Giana Barata, QCinema Film Foundation VP Jim Baltazar, Belmonte, Uniprom COO Irene Jose, QCinema artistic director Ed Lejano and QCinema Film Foundation member Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala.

QC was recently named a UNESCO Creative City of Film, becoming one of the first cities in Southeast Asia to receive such recognition.

“Of course, all of these began with our very own QCinema. This year, our film festival, our baby, turns 13. It is now a teenager. After all the pain that comes with birthing and raising this ambitious venture, we gather tonight to celebrate what it has become,” she continued.

“We are so proud that we have grown a formidable platform for outstanding filmmaking, drawing entries and audiences from different parts of the world and pushing the boundaries of storytelling.”

Through QCinema, they are “giving filmmakers and creatives the space to explore possibilities and redefine conventions,” she added. “Back when we were just introducing QCinema, we came up with a banner which said, one city to the world. That simple line encapsulated our mission to build upon QC’s storied legacy.”

Belmonte told The STAR that carrying the title comes with a significant amount of responsibility.

“And I think (QCinema) is the leading film festival in the country because we have everything in this film festival. Lahat talaga ng uri ng pelikula pinapakita natin dito. And this I think is the only film festival that is fully subsidized by the government, which is very unusual in this country where arts and culture take a backseat, and are not given that importance.”