QCinema 2020 widens reach with online festival format
QCinema, one of the leading international film festivals in Southeast Asia, is all set to go virtual this year. Adopting the theme for the new normal, "QCinema: A New Filmscape," this year’s festival is slated to run from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6, 2020.
The festival lineup will be released nationwide through Upstream, a newly launched Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) streaming platform, with tickets available for purchase through online ticketing platform, GMovies.
According to a press statement, through Upstream and GMovies, anyone in the Philippines can access QCinema’s 2020 films at any time. This significantly widens the coverage and reach of films, as previous QCinemas were limited only to Metro Manila venues and theaters.
QCinema festival director Ed Lejano said that the lockdown restrictions has given QCinema a chance to reinvent their format and reach more viewers.
"This period of vast isolation has presented an opportunity for QCinema to reach out to more audiences from across the country. For our special #QCinema2020 edition, we will adapt, explore and take on new forms.”
The festival committee shared that this year’s streaming program will be a mix of foreign and local films. Past QCinema #AsianNextWave and Circle Competition grantees are included in the lineup.
A variety of online and offline events are scheduled in line with the festival. Prior to the 10-day event, QCinema will also be streaming for free its past #QCShorts grantees on its social media accounts and website, QCinema.ph. The film fest is known for its unique grants that give full ownership to the filmmakers.
During the festival proper, the event will host a gathering to give grants to Inter-Guild Alliance and select independent films, which halted production because of the pandemic. It will also award six short films that present the lighter side of the quarantine.
Here's an early teaser trailer for QCinema released last August 2020 showing some friendly reminders for people to enjoy a “new QCinema normal.”
(Images from QCinema)