QCinema unveils lineup of short films for 2025 edition
Cinephiles are in for a treat as the QCinema International Film Festival has now named its newest batch of filmmakers for the latest edition of its short film program.
Eight Filipino filmmakers will have the privilege to showcase their works for the 2025 QCShorts. Jason Tan Liwag, head of short film programming at QCinema, described the batch to be composed mostly of new filmmaking talent—as over half of the roster of directors and producers are still undergraduate students.
"It’s exciting because there’s clearly a new generation of filmmakers, most of whom were born in the 2000s and have only had a limited number of shorts under their belt, who are seeking support. We’re happy to help and introduce them to the Filipino and international community," he said.
The filmmakers and their projects are: Norvin de los Santos (Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!), Lauviah Caliboso (Ours Was A Timeless Night Burning), Racquel “Lysa” Catolico and Jazmine Gin Pateña (RUNO!), Dale (Si Tina: Ang Babaye Nga Nag Daba-Daba), Gabriela Serrano and Mariana Serrano (Surface Tension), and Gab Rosique (Yelo).
Norvin de los Santos (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Lauviah Caliboso (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Racquel “Lysa” Catolico (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Jazmine Gin Pateña (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Dale (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Gabriela Serrano and Mariana Serrano (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Gab Rosique (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Norvin de los Santos (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Lauviah Caliboso (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Racquel “Lysa” Catolico (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Jazmine Gin Pateña (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Dale (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Gabriela Serrano and Mariana Serrano (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
Gab Rosique (Photo courtesy of QCinema)
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They were selected from a total of 285 submissions from Filipino filmmakers around the globe.
"[All] short films in the lineup contend with this generation’s evolving and disintegrating notions of home—the ways we are displaced from it, return to it, and transform along with it," he added.
The films
Hoy, Hoy, Ingat!
The film follows a child who is determined to become famous and his beautiful, terminally ill brother who must rescue their beloved PUV jeepney—their last hope to fly home to the countryside.
It is written and directed by de los Santos and produced by Alex Poblete. The two were previously awarded with the QCShorts grant in 2019, enabling them to create the Gawad Urian-nominated short film Isang Daa’t Isang Mariposa. Their upcoming work continues the duo’s search for "insights into our systems of care and human rights through cinema."
Ours Was A Timeless Night Burning
The film explores two unacquainted daughters who try to keep themselves occupied by playing a game of F-L-A-M-E-S and watching an adult sitcom as they await their father's return from a night of endless gambling.
It is written and directed by Caliboso, with Jamie Pauline Sanchez serving as producer. Caliboso regards her work as one of the many films she’ll make that "explore father-daughter relationships and the dominant narratives around Filipino families."
RUNO!
RUNO! is unique as it's the only animated project in the bunch. It tells the story of a silly Filipino stray rescue dog dead who strives to find her student owner through a long dangerous journey to defeat her worst enemy: an empty food bowl.
The work is co-written and co-directed by Catolico and Pateña and produced by Rebekah Sarabosin
Si Tina: Ang Babaye Nga Nag Daba-Daba
The sci-fi film takes place in Bacolod and follows its titular character as she feels a sudden surge of intense body heat, all while a distant rumble echoes from the mountains.
The film is written and directed by Negros-based filmmaker Dale, whose other works have gained recognition in other festivals such as Sinenegrense, BINISAYA, and NABIFILMEX. Franz Louie Domasian and JT Trinidad will be producing the project.
Surface Tension
The drama film puts audiences into the shoes of a young swimmer named Bulet who finds herself drowning on the day of a small town wedding.
The Serrano sisters will be making their debut as a directing and producing duo through the film. They previously co-wrote the Cinemalaya-winning horror short Dikit.
Yelo
Yelo is set in a thrift shop in Cubao, where Jessa and Candy are about to have their lives turned upside down by the arrival of a foreigner with promises of America.
The film is written and directed by Rosique, who previously participated in the Ngilngig Asian Fantastic Film Festival and most recently won best editing and jury prize at Sinedesipulo 2025. Miles Jewel joins him as producer.
The filmmakers will receive a P500,000 production grant and will make their world premiere at the QCinema International Film Festival on Nov. 14 to 23.
