The QCinema Venture Market concluded its third version by distributing over PHP18 million ($310,000) in manufacturing, post-production, growth and advertising help to filmmakers throughout Southeast Asia.
The occasion carries added significance following Quezon Metropolis’s latest designation as a UNESCO Artistic Metropolis of Movie, positioning the Philippines capital alongside acknowledged international cinema facilities. The trade arm of the QCinema Worldwide Movie Competition held its 2025 version in Quezon Metropolis over two days of pitch classes, curated conferences and trade dialogues.
Dominic Bekaert’s “Daddy Cool” captured the highest honor, receiving the Quezon Metropolis Finest Venture Award value PHP1 million ($17,240). The Philippine challenge additionally earned the Kongchak Studio Award for audio post-production providers valued at $10,000, plus colour correction providers from Central Digital Lab.
Russell Morton’s Singapore challenge “Penumbra” took first place within the QPM Southeast Asian Venture Award class with PHP500,000 ($8,620), whereas Mai Huyền Chi’s Vietnamese movie “The River Is aware of Our Names” positioned second with PHP300,000 ($5,170).
Within the Filipino challenge class, Arjanmar H. Rebeta’s “There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala) claimed first place and PHP500,000, with Sam Manacsa’s “The Void is Immense in Idle Hours” taking second and PHP300,000. Manacsa’s challenge proved significantly profitable, accumulating a number of companion awards together with tools help, colour correction providers and a movie residency.
Malaysian filmmaker Joon Goh acquired the QPM Discovery Award value PHP500,000 for “The Keen,” whereas Khavn De La Cruz earned the Finest Pitch prize of PHP100,000 for “Jollywood.”
Associate awards prolonged the help considerably past money prizes. Dean Colin Marcial’s “Jaguar” acquired complete post-production providers from Mocha Chai Laboratories valued at $50,000. CMB Gear Help distributed PHP1 million in movie tools throughout six tasks from the Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia.
A number of tasks benefited from colour grading, audio post-production and advertising help by way of partnerships with Central Digital Lab, Barebones, Terminal Six, Narra, Puregold and Stage Publish Audio and Music Productions.
“Quezon Metropolis’s UNESCO Artistic Metropolis of Movie designation evokes us to goal even larger,” stated QPM managing director Liza Dino-Seguerra. “These awards replicate our perception within the area’s filmmakers and our dedication to supporting their tales as they journey to international audiences.”
The 2025 version featured tasks from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia.
2025 QCinema Venture Market Award Winners
MAJOR AWARDS
Quezon Metropolis Finest Venture Award
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines) Prize: PHP1,000,000 ($17,240)
QPM Southeast Asian Venture Award — 1st Place
“Penumbra,” directed by Russell Morton (Singapore) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
QPM Southeast Asian Venture Award — 2nd Place
“The River Is aware of Our Names,” directed by Mai Huyền Chi (Vietnam) Prize: PHP300,000 ($5,170)
QPM Filipino Venture Award — 1st Place
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
QPM Filipino Venture Award — 2nd Place
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines) Prize: PHP300,000 ($5,170)
QPM Discovery Award
“The Keen,” directed by Joon Goh (Malaysia) Prize: PHP500,000 ($8,620)
Finest Pitch
“Jollywood,” directed by Khavn De La Cruz Prize: PHP100,000 ($1,700)
PARTNER AWARDS
Mocha Chai Laboratories Award
“Jaguar,” directed by Dean Colin Marcial – Complete post-production providers valued at as much as $50,000
CMB Gear Help Grant
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis,” directed by Glenn Barit (Philippines)
“Pricey Wormwood,” directed by Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
“When The World Is Paused,” directed by Han Thit Htoo Aung (Myanmar)
“Romdoul, The Night Perfume,” directed by Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia)
Movie tools help value PHP1,000,000 ($17,240) tailor-made to the challenge’s necessities
Kongchak Studio Award
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines) – $10,000 value of audio post-production providers
Central Digital Lab Shade Correction Grant
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
“Daddy Cool,” directed by Dominic Bekaert (Philippines)
Shade grading and digital mastering providers value PHP300,000 ($5,170)
Barebones Award
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Romdoul, The Night Perfume,” directed by Lomorpich Rithy (Cambodia)
“Ghost of the Currents,” directed by Patiparn Boontarig (Thailand)
“KOMIXXX,” directed by Jopy Arnaldo (Philippines)
Shade grading providers value $14,000
Terminal Six Publish-Manufacturing Award
“Pricey Wormwood,” directed by Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
$10,000 in post-production help together with offline enhancing and digital intermediate preparation
Narra Publish-Manufacturing Grant
“What’s Left of Us,” directed by Tyrone Acierto (Philippines)
“Penumbra,” directed by Russell Morton (Singapore)
“Dancing Gale,” directed by Sammaria Sari Simanjuntak (Indonesia)
One Filipino challenge and two Southeast Asian tasks every obtain PHP500,000 ($8,620) in audio post-production providers
Puregold Cine Panalo Movie Advertising Grant
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
PHP200,000 ($3,445) in advertising help; could also be thought-about because the CinePanalo Movie Competition opening movie
Pop Up Movie Residency x FAP Venture Award
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours,” directed by Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
Pop Up Movie Residency x FAP Ability Up Award
Eero Yves Francisco (Manufacturing Designer) “Sentinel”
Kingyo Productions Award
“When The World Is Paused,” directed by Han Thit Htoo Aung (Myanmar)
$5,000 plus music mentorship and collaborative help with Kingyo’s Taiwanese composer
Stage Publish Audio and Music Productions, Inc. Audio Publish-production and Music Grant
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis,” directed by Glenn Barit (Philippines)
“There Is, There Isn’t” (Meron, Wala), directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Sentinel,” directed by Carl Joseph E. Papa (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie,” directed by Jaime Pacena II (Philippines)
PHP600,000 value of full audio post-production and authentic musical scoring, all dealt with by the Stage Publish crew
