In its 14th edition, the QCinema International Film Festival introduces Genre’teurs, a curatorial concept that explores where genre films and auteurAuteurA filmmaker whose personal vision and consistent style are so strong that they are seen as the main author of their films. The term comes from French film criticism, andGo to Auteur Glossary cinema intersect.
Explaining the concept, QCinema Artistic Director Ed Lejano said, “Genre gives filmmakers a framework, while the auteurAuteurA filmmaker whose personal vision and consistent style are so strong that they are seen as the main author of their films. The term comes from French film criticism, andGo to Auteur Glossary brings a personal voice to that framework. With Genre’teurs, we want to look at films where these two elements come together as a pervading theme that cuts across the festival program.”
The Genre’teur films will be screened across different sections of the festivalFestivalA multi-act music event, often held over several days, where many artists perform across different stages. Festivals combine live music, food, art, and community, and they give audiences a chanceGo to Festival Glossary, which runs from November 16 to 22. These sections include Screen International, the festival’s selection of notable international films; Asian Next Wave, the festival’s main competition section; RainbowQC, its LGBTQIA+ competition section; New Horizons, its competition for emerging filmmakers; Before Midnight, its genre-focused section; QCSelects, its curated selection of notable films; Rediscovery, which revisits significant films from different periods and places; Dokyu Days, its documentary section; and QCShorts International, which showcases short films from the Philippines and abroad.
“[Genre’teur films] are films that may belong to a familiar genre, but the way the filmmaker approaches the material makes the film distinctly their own,” said Lejano. Examples are Lav Diaz’s 2001 crime drama Batang West Side, his latest historical drama Makikiraan Po, Phuttiphong Aroonpheng’s science fiction drama The Burning Giants, Rami Kodeih’s heist thriller Furies (which will make its Asian premiere in QCinema), and the Eugene Kotlyarenko-directed rom-com Vintage Violence.
Also getting the spotlight in this year’s festival is the 2000 psychological thriller Amores Perros, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, whose Tom Cruise-starrer Digger has also just been released in Philippine cinemas.
The full lineup for QCinema 2026 will be announced in the third week of October. Screenings will be held at Gateway Cineplex 18, Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, Ayala Malls Cinemas TriNoma, Fisher Box Office, and SM Cinema in SM City Fairview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Genre’teurs is a QCinema 2026 curatorial concept exploring where genre films and auteur cinema intersect, with genre as the framework and the auteur’s personal voice running through it.
QCinema 2026 runs November 16 to 22 at Gateway Cineplex 18, Robinsons Movieworld Galleria, Ayala Malls Cinemas TriNoma, Fisher Box Office, and SM Cinema in SM City Fairview.
Genre’teur films include Lav Diaz’s Batang West Side and Makikiraan Po, plus Amores Perros, The Burning Giants, Furies, and Vintage Violence. Furies makes its Asian premiere at QCinema.
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2000 psychological thriller Amores Perros is also in the spotlight at QCinema 2026, as his latest film Digger was just released in Philippine cinemas.
Genre’teur films screen across Screen International, Asian Next Wave, RainbowQC, New Horizons, Before Midnight, QCSelects, Rediscovery, Dokyu Days, and QCShorts International.
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