Quezon City Film Commission and Instituto Cervantes Send Off the Philippine Delegation to San Sebastián International Film Festival

Quezon City, Philippines— The Instituto Cervantes Manila hosted a Focus on Filipinas Despedida Party in partnership with the Quezon City Film Commission to formally send off the Philippine Delegation to the San Sebastián International Film Festival (SSIFF).

The Spanish-Philippine Happy Hour celebrated the ten  selected Philippine producers, representing QC-based companies (Anna Velario, Real Florido, Pauline Saltarin, Arleen Cuevas, Geo Lomuntad, and Perci Intalan); QCitizen filmmakers (Chad Cabigon and Jo Andrew Torlao); and QCinema Project Market awardees (Keith Sicat and Monster Jimenez).

The evening opened with a flamenco-inspired performance by guitarist Adrik Cristobal, whose renditions of both Filipino and Spanish pieces set the tone for a night of cultural exchange and celebration.

In his welcome remarks, Director Francisco Lopez Tapia of Instituto Cervantes said, “On behalf of the Instituto Cervantes, it is a great honor to host the Philippine Delegates. We are truly delighted to have you here with us and for you to bring with you your talent, creativity, and perseverance. Congratulations to QCFC on being chosen by the San Sebastián International Film Festival as the Focus Country of their Industry Program.”

On the Focus on Filipinas program, QCFC Executive Director Liza Diño emphasized a broader vision, “Our mission is to reconnect the Philippines with Latin America through Spain. The Philippines is Southeast Asian, but also Latin in spirit. Spain is European, but also Latin American in reach.” 

Diño continued, “Together, we can build a bridge that links Asia and Latin America through cinema.  But To sustain this momentum, we must create systems—through incentives, funds, and supportive policies—that make partnerships possible and fair.”

First Secretary Alvaro Garcia Moreno of the Spanish Embassy, speaking on behalf of Spanish Ambassador Miguel Delgado Utray, also delivered a toast to the delegates: “To the talented filmmakers, we bid them good luck—buena suerte— in San Sebastian.” 

He also acknowledged Executive Director Liza Diño for her longstanding partnership with the Spanish Embassy, “I raise a glass for friendship between our institutions, and our passion for cinema, and for the initiatives that we celebrate today.”

In line with Moreno’s sentiment, Diño also stated, “What better place to mark this beginning than San Sebastián—a city that has always celebrated stories that cross borders.”

The highlight of the evening was a networking cocktail mixer, where an elegant selection of tapas and beverages was served as producers, attending filmmakers, and institutional representatives engaged in meaningful conversation about potential partnerships, collaborations, and linkages. 

The official delegation period of the Quezon City Film Commission, QCinema Film Foundation, and the Philippine producers as one delegation is set for September 21 to 25, 2025—marking a historic milestone for the Philippines as the Focus Country of the SSIFF Industry Program.

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