QCinema International Film Festival Announces Official Selection of QCSEA Shorts Competition
The QCinema International Film Festival has revealed the official selection for the first-ever QCSEA Shorts Competition. Out of 380 entries from Southeast Asia, ten short films have been chosen to compete in the inaugural edition of the competition. The lineup consists of entries from Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
One of the selected films is “Basri And Salma In A Never-Ending Comedy” directed by Khozy Rizal from Indonesia. The film tells the story of a childless couple who have been married for five years and own an Odong-Odong, a children’s entertainment vehicle at the carnival. As they entertain and care for other people’s children, they face meddling relatives, self-doubt, and a dramatic confrontation that reveals the reason behind their infertility.
“Buoyant” by Toan Thanh Doan & Hoang-Phuc Nguyen-Le from Vietnam follows the journey of a fisherman who saves a mermaid from the fish market. Joined by two jovial friends, they embark on a fantastical adventure on the water.
Singapore’s entry, “I Look Into The Mirror And Repeat Myself,” directed by Giselle Lin, explores the filmmaker’s reflection on her given name, her place among her four sisters, and their stories during a period of change and dissolution within their family.
From Malaysia comes “MOP” directed by Joon Goh, a film that depicts a boss and her employee engaging in a dangerous sexual game during their lunch break.
Moe Myat May Zarchi presents an experimental short film from Myanmar titled “The Altar.” Using photographic sequences painted with golds and grays, the film tells the story of a guilt-ridden childhood incident involving the killing of an ant while washing hands in the sink.
Five short films from the Philippines have also been selected for the competition. “Cross My Heart And Hope To Die” by Sam Manacsa follows Mila as she struggles with unpaid work while finding solace in a love interest’s constant phone calls. However, a promise of hope may lead to tragedy and heartbreak.
Bea Mariano’s “Dominion” narrates the experience of a drowning individual through an archive of colonial photographs, employing a barrage of sounds and images from the past and present in a textured and fragmented play.
“Hito” by Stephen Lopez tells the story of a 14-year-old girl who discovers that the fish served for dinner is a rehabilitated bioweapon named Kiefer.
“Seth Andrew Blanca and Niño Maldecir bring “Kung Nga-a Conscious Ang Mga Alien Sang Ila Skincare (The Thing About Aliens And Their Skin Care),” a drama and comedy that explores the lives of aliens living among us.
The final entry from the Philippines is “When You Left Me On That Boulevard” by Kayla Abuda Galang. The film revolves around a teenager named Ly and her cousins who get high before a lively family Thanksgiving in Southeast San Diego in 2006.
These short films will have their Philippine premieres from November 17 to 26, 2023, during the 11th edition of the QCinema International Film Festival. For more information about the festival, you can follow their social media accounts @qcinemaph.
