QCinema Project Market 2024 Awards PHP 26 Million in Grants, Opens Doors for Global Co-Productions for Southeast Asian Filmmakers

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES (16 NOVEMBER 2024) — The second edition of the QCinema Project Market (QPM), the flagship industry initiative of the QCinema International Film Festival, concluded with a triumphant announcement of its award-winning film projects. An impressive PHP 26 million in grants and co-production support was distributed among the winners. Held at the iBis Styles Hotel in Quezon City, this milestone event coincided with the 2024 edition of the festival and marked another leap forward in QCinema’s commitment to nurturing world cinema. 

Now in its twelfth year, the QCinema International Film Festival has further cemented its reputation as more than just a premier showcase for outstanding Filipino and international cinema. This year’s QCinema Project Market (QPM) reinforced its pivotal role as a driving force in bridging filmmakers with essential production partnerships and funding opportunities.

The market unfolded over an intensive two-day event from November 13-14, 2024 at the Novotel Hotel, also in Quezon City, designed to foster networking and pitch sessions for 20 carefully chosen feature-length fiction projects from across Southeast Asia. Representatives of these projects participated in focused, one-on-one meetings with prominent producers and influential figures from both local and international production and post-production companies, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration and support.

Three standout Filipino projects received the prestigious QCinema Project Market Philippine Co-Production Grant, each valued at PHP 2,000,000 (USD 34,000). These were “Anak Alon” (Daughters of the Sea) directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar, “Bato Bato Sa Langit, Ang Tamaan Magagalit” (Heaven Help Us) directed by Eve Baswel, and “Inahing Baka” (Mother Maybe) directed by Sonny Calvento.

The QCinema Project Market – Southeast Asia Co-Production Grant, worth PHP 1,000,000 (USD 17,000), was awarded to Myanmar-Indonesia co-production “The Beer Girl in Yangon” by director Sein Lyan Tun. Additionally, co-production grants of PHP 750,000 (USD 12,000) each were presented to Singapore’s “Other People’s Dreams” by director Daniel Hui and Malaysia’s “The Passport” by director Ananth Subramaniam.

To advance the QCinema Project Market’s mission of promoting the creation of innovative, globally impactful films and fostering collaboration across the Southeast Asian film industry, special awards were provided by various industry partners. These included valuable development and post-production grants, further empowering filmmakers to bring their visions to life.

The CMB Discovery Award granted equipment rental support to multiple standout projects, showcasing its commitment to nurturing promising filmmaking talent. Five selected projects—“Lihim na Luha” (Secret Cries) by Eileen Cabiling, “Please Bear With Me” by Gabriela Serrano, “Golden” by JP Habac, “Angel De Dios” by Joel Ruiz, and “Molder” by Kenneth Dagatan—each received PHP 1,000,000 (USD 17,000) in support.

Additionally, CMB extended the same grant, valued at PHP 500,000 (USD 13,500), to eight other Filipino projects, further bolstering their development. These recipients included “My Neighbor The Gangster” by Mario Cornejo, “The Returning” by Atsuko Hirayanagi, “Bato Bato Sa Langit, Ang Tamaan Magagalit” (Heaven Help Us) by Eve Baswel, “Baradero” (A Ship of Fools) by Keith Deligero, “Ewa” by Keith Sicat, “Anak Alon” (Daughters of the Sea) by Martika Ramirez Escobar, “Hum” by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, and “Inahing Baka” (Mother Maybe) by Sonny Calvento.

"Angel De Dios" was honored with the prestigious Mocha Chai Award, which comes with a comprehensive post-production services package worth USD 50,000.

The Kongchak Studio Award was presented to “Molder,” granting the project sound post-production services worth up to USD 10,000, to be completed at Kongchak’s studios in Cambodia. Additionally, Central Digital Lab awarded two color correction grants, each valued at USD 10,000, to the projects “The Returning” and “My Neighbor The Gangster.”

The Barebones Award, a color correction grant valued at up to USD 14,000 each, was presented to four exceptional projects. Among the recipients were the Filipino films “Golden” and “Hum,” alongside two standout Southeast Asian projects: “Future Laobans” by director Maung Sun and “I’ll Smile in September” by director Aakash Chhabra. In addition, Barebones and Terminal 6 teamed up to present the T6xBB Award to “The Beer Girl in Yangon,” offering the project the same post-production services valued at approximately USD 14,000.

Finally, Nathan Studios awarded a development grant of PHP 250,000 to the project “Lihim na Luha” (Secret Cries) while the Taiwan Creative Content Agency presented the TAICCA Award—a USD 5,000 cash prize—to “Ewa,” the sole animation film in the slate.

"We are thrilled to have successfully wrapped up the second edition of QPM with a remarkable slate of projects, backed by the incredible support of our partners, funders, and collaborators. This achievement reaffirms our belief that the project market will continue to be a vital platform for fostering cross-border collaborations and co-production opportunities among Filipino, Southeast Asian, and international filmmakers. We’re excited for what’s to come!" shared Liza Dino-Seguerra, QCinema Project Market Managing Director.

The finalists were chosen from 70 film submissions from across the Southeast Asian region. The networking event is designed to support films in the development stage and encourage cross-border collaborations and co-production opportunities among Filipino, Southeast Asian, and international filmmakers, in line with the QCinema International Film Festival’s commitment to offering a platform for bold and creative voices in cinema. 

2024 QCINEMA PROJECT MARKET WINNERS LIST

QPM PHILIPPINES CO-PRODUCTION GRANT (PHP2,000,000)

“Daughters of the Sea” (Anak Alon)

“Heaven Help Us” (Bato Bato Sa Langit Ang Tamaan Magagalit)

“Mother Maybe” (Inahing Baka)

QPM SOUTHEAST ASIAN CO-PRODUCTION PRIZE (PHP1,000,000 & PHP750,000)

“The Beer Girl in Yangon” (Myanmar, Indonesia)

“Other People’s Dreams” (Singapore)

“The Passport” (Malaysia)

MOCHA CHAI AWARD (VALUED UP TO USD50,000)

“Angel De Dios” (Philippines)

CMB DISCOVERY AWARD - PHP 1,000,000 EACH 

“Lihim na Luha” (Philippines)

“Please Bear With Me” (Philippines)

“Golden” (Philippines)

“Angel de Dios” (Philippines)

“Molder” (Philippines)

CMB DISCOVERY AWARD - PHP 500,000 EACH

"My Neighbor The Gangster" (Philippines)

"The Returning" (Philippines)

“Heaven Help Us” (Bato Bato Sa Langit Ang Tamaan Magagalit) (Philippines)

"Baradero” (A Ship of Fools) (Philippines)

"Ewa" (Philippines)

"Anak Alon” (Daughters of the Sea) (Philippines)

"Hum" (Philippines)

"Mother Maybe” (Inahing Baka) (Philippines)

KONGCHAK STUDIO AWARD (VALUED UP TO USD 10,000)

“Molder” (Philippines)

CENTRAL DIGITAL LAB AWARD (VALUED UP TO USD 10,000)

“The Returning” (Philippines)

“My Neighbor The Gangster” (Philippines)

BAREBONES AWARD (VALUED UP TO USD 14,000)

“Golden” (Philippines)

“Hum” (Philippines)

“Future Laobans” (Myanmar)

“I’ll Smile in September” (Singapore, India)

T6XBB AWARD (VALUED UP TO USD 14,000)

“The Beer Girl in Yangon” (Myanmar, Indonesia)

TAICCA AWARD (USD 5,000)

“Ewa” (Philippines)

NATHAN STUDIOS DEVELOPMENT GRANT (PHP 250,000)

“Lihim na Luha” (Secret Cries)