The QCinema Project Market concluded its third edition by distributing over PHP18 million ($310,000) in production, post-production, development and marketing support to filmmakers across Southeast Asia.
The event carries added significance following Quezon City’s recent designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, positioning the Philippines capital alongside recognized global cinema centers. The industry arm of the QCinema International Film Festival held its 2025 edition in Quezon City over two days of pitch sessions, curated meetings and industry dialogues.
Dominic Bekaert’s “Daddy Cool” captured the top honor, receiving the Quezon City Best Project Award worth PHP1 million ($17,240). The Philippine project also earned the Kongchak Studio Award for audio post-production services valued at $10,000, plus color correction services from Central Digital Lab.
Russell Morton’s Singapore project “Penumbra” took first place in the QPM Southeast Asian Project Award category with PHP500,000 ($8,620), while Mai Huyền Chi’s Vietnamese film “The River Knows Our Names” placed second with PHP300,000 ($5,170).
In the Filipino project category, Arjanmar H. Rebeta’s “There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala) claimed first place and PHP500,000, with Sam Manacsa’s “The Void is Immense in Idle Hours” taking second and PHP300,000. Manacsa’s project proved particularly successful, accumulating multiple partner awards including equipment support, color correction services and a film residency.
Malaysian filmmaker Joon Goh received the QPM Discovery Award worth PHP500,000 for “The Willing,” while Khavn De La Cruz earned the Best Pitch prize of PHP100,000 for “Jollywood.”
Partner awards extended the support significantly beyond cash prizes. Dean Colin Marcial’s “Jaguar” received comprehensive post-production services from Mocha Chai Laboratories valued at $50,000. CMB Equipment Support distributed PHP1 million in film equipment across six projects from the Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Multiple projects benefited from color grading, audio post-production and marketing support through partnerships with Central Digital Lab, Barebones, Terminal Six, Narra, Puregold and Stage Post Audio and Music Productions.
“Quezon City’s UNESCO Creative City of Film designation inspires us to aim even higher,” said QPM managing director Liza Dino-Seguerra. “These awards reflect our belief in the region’s filmmakers and our dedication to supporting their stories as they travel to global audiences.”
The 2025 edition featured projects from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.
2025 QCinema Project Market Award Winners
MAJOR AWARDS
Quezon City Best Project Award
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines) Prize: PHP1,000,000 ($17,240)
QPM Southeast Asian Project Award — 1st Place
“Penumbra,” directed by Russell Morton (Singapore) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
QPM Southeast Asian Project Award — 2nd Place
“The River Knows Our Names,” directed by Mai Huyền Chi (Vietnam) Prize: PHP300,000 ($5,170)
QPM Filipino Project Award — 1st Place
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
QPM Filipino Project Award — 2nd Place
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines) Prize: PHP300,000 ($5,170)
QPM Discovery Award
“The Willing,” directed by Joon Goh (Malaysia) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
Best Pitch
“Jollywood,” directed by Khavn De La Cruz Prize: PHP100,000 ($1,700)
PARTNER AWARDS
Mocha Chai Laboratories Award
“Jaguar,” directed by Dean Colin Marcial – Comprehensive post-production services valued at up to $50,000
CMB Equipment Support Grant
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis,” directed by Glenn Barit (Philippines)
“Dear Wormwood,” directed by Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
“When The World Is Paused,” directed by Han Thit Htoo Aung (Myanmar)
“Romdoul, The Evening Fragrance,” directed by Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia)
Film equipment support worth PHP1,000,000 ($17,240) tailored to the project’s requirements
Kongchak Studio Award
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines) – $10,000 worth of audio post-production services
Central Digital Lab Color Correction Grant
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines)
Color grading and digital mastering services worth PHP300,000 ($5,170)
Barebones Award
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Romdoul, The Evening Fragrance,” directed by Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia)
“Ghost of the Currents,” directed by Patiparn Boontarig (Thailand)
“KOMIXXX,” directed by Jopy Arnaldo (Philippines)
Color grading services worth $14,000
Terminal Six Post-Production Award
“Dear Wormwood,” directed by Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
$10,000 in post-production support including offline editing and digital intermediate preparation
Narra Post-Production Grant
“What’s Left of Us,” directed by Tyrone Acierto (Philippines)
“Penumbra,” directed by Russell Morton (Singapore)
“Dancing Gale,” directed by Sammaria Sari Simanjuntak (Indonesia)
One Filipino project and two Southeast Asian projects each receive PHP500,000 ($8,620) in audio post-production services
Puregold Cine Panalo Film Marketing Grant
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
PHP200,000 ($3,445) in marketing support; may be considered as the CinePanalo Film Festival opening film
Pop Up Film Residency x FAP Project Award
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
Pop Up Film Residency x FAP Skill Up Award
Eero Yves Francisco (Production Designer) “Sentinel”
Kingyo Productions Award
“When The World Is Paused,” directed by Han Thit Htoo Aung (Myanmar)
$5,000 plus music mentorship and collaborative support with Kingyo’s Taiwanese composer
Stage Post Audio and Music Productions, Inc. Audio Post-production and Music Grant
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis,” directed by Glenn Barit (Philippines)
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Sentinel,” directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
PHP600,000 worth of complete audio post-production and original musical scoring, all handled by the Stage Post team
Naman Ramachandran
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