The QCinema Project Market has concluded its third edition, bestowing a staggering PHP 18 million ($310,000) in support to Southeast Asian filmmakers. This year's event carries added significance as Quezon City was recently designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, solidifying its reputation alongside global cinema centers.
This year's winners were announced across various categories, with Dominic Bekaert's "Daddy Cool" taking the top honor, securing PHP1 million ($17,240) in the Quezon City Best Project Award. The Philippine project also earned recognition from Kongchak Studio for audio post-production services and color correction services.
Russell Morton's Singaporean project "Penumbra" took first place in the QPM Southeast Asian Project Award category with a prize of PHP500,000 ($8,620). Mai Huyแปn Chi's Vietnamese film "The River Knows Our Names" placed second with a prize of PHP300,000 ($5,170).
In the Filipino project category, Arjanmar H. Rebeta's "There Is, There Isn't" (Meron, Wala) took first place and secured a prize of PHP500,000. Sam Manacsa's "The Void is Immense in Idle Hours" earned second place with a prize of PHP300,000.
Malaysian filmmaker Joon Goh received the QPM Discovery Award worth PHP500,000 for his project "The Willing." Khavn De La Cruz won the Best Pitch prize for his project "Jollywood."
Partner awards extended support significantly beyond cash prizes. Dean Colin Marcial's "Jaguar" received comprehensive post-production services from Mocha Chai Laboratories valued at $50,000. CMB Equipment Support distributed PHP1 million in film equipment across six projects.
Multiple projects benefited from color grading, audio post-production, and marketing support through partnerships with Central Digital Lab, Barebones, Terminal Six, Narra, Puregold, and Stage Post Audio and Music Productions.
"This year's awards reflect our belief in the region's filmmakers and our dedication to supporting their stories as they travel to global audiences," said QPM managing director Liza Dino-Seguerra.
This year's winners were announced across various categories, with Dominic Bekaert's "Daddy Cool" taking the top honor, securing PHP1 million ($17,240) in the Quezon City Best Project Award. The Philippine project also earned recognition from Kongchak Studio for audio post-production services and color correction services.
Russell Morton's Singaporean project "Penumbra" took first place in the QPM Southeast Asian Project Award category with a prize of PHP500,000 ($8,620). Mai Huyแปn Chi's Vietnamese film "The River Knows Our Names" placed second with a prize of PHP300,000 ($5,170).
In the Filipino project category, Arjanmar H. Rebeta's "There Is, There Isn't" (Meron, Wala) took first place and secured a prize of PHP500,000. Sam Manacsa's "The Void is Immense in Idle Hours" earned second place with a prize of PHP300,000.
Malaysian filmmaker Joon Goh received the QPM Discovery Award worth PHP500,000 for his project "The Willing." Khavn De La Cruz won the Best Pitch prize for his project "Jollywood."
Partner awards extended support significantly beyond cash prizes. Dean Colin Marcial's "Jaguar" received comprehensive post-production services from Mocha Chai Laboratories valued at $50,000. CMB Equipment Support distributed PHP1 million in film equipment across six projects.
Multiple projects benefited from color grading, audio post-production, and marketing support through partnerships with Central Digital Lab, Barebones, Terminal Six, Narra, Puregold, and Stage Post Audio and Music Productions.
"This year's awards reflect our belief in the region's filmmakers and our dedication to supporting their stories as they travel to global audiences," said QPM managing director Liza Dino-Seguerra.
can u believe how awesome this QCinema Project Market is? 
I mean, 18 million pesos in support for Southeast Asian filmmakers is like, a huge deal! 
wow, the city's reputation as a hub for film is legit! 
I'm so stoked to see our local projects getting recognition and funding. Like, Dominic Bekaert's "Daddy Cool" won like, a million pesos in Quezon City Best Project Award 
and Russell Morton's "Penumbra" got 500k in QPM Southeast Asian Project Award? 
. First of all, why did we have to wait until Quezon City got designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Film for this thing to happen? It's like they wanted us to think the whole event was just about supporting Southeast Asian filmmakers, but really it's about promoting that city's "brand" 
. And don't even get me started on the prize money - $310,000 is a pretty penny, if you ask me 
I'm not surprised though, considering QCinema Project Market has solidified its rep as a go-to event for film lovers. And yeah, it's awesome to see projects from different countries getting recognition. I mean, who wouldn't want to see "The River Knows Our Names" and "Jaguar" get some love? 
But seriously, it's great to see filmmakers getting the support they need to take their work global. Now if only I could make a film for that amount of money... 
, I mean, can't the QCinema Project Market just organize events for once? It feels like every time they do something, it's always tied to some bigger UNESCO or film center thing. Can't we just have a straightforward festival without all these extra credentials?
.
... I mean, do we know what's going on with that prize money? Is it all just cash or are there any tax implications for the filmmakers in the Philippines?
, it's awesome that they're able to support so many Southeast Asian filmmakers with that kind of cash 
, it's about time we get some recognition for our own cinema scene. Anyway, a lot of these winners got prizes and services from other cool companies like Mocha Chai Labs and Stage Post Audio Music Productions, that's really helpful for them 
.
I'm totally stoked about this 
. I love that they're not just handing out cash prizes, but also offering all these other awesome services too - color grading, audio post-production... it's like, 
so cool for the filmmakers to get all this support! 