Internationally Acclaimed Films To Watch In Theaters Before The Month Ends

From Loy Arcenas to Wong Kar-Wai: These titles coming to big screens near you prove that the medium isn’t dead.

November is ushering in an exciting time for cinema in the Philippines. The film format suffered heavily during the pandemic. With reports of over 21 billion pesos in losses this time last year, the situation was described as one with “No happy endings.” These days, it seems the industry has turned a new leaf.

Twenty-twenty-two was dubbed “an exciting year for PH cinema” by the Film Development Council of the Philippines, which saw the return of in-person film festivals to Manila like Cinemalaya and the French Film Festival. ABS-CBN Film Productions is also taking on a new direction with a return to cinemas and a fresh take on storytelling.

Internationally, Leonor Will Never Die by Martika Escobar and The Headhunter’s Daughter by Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan competed at the Sundance Film Festival. Both brought home Special Jury Prizes. Likewise, filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary, while actress Dolly De Leon made waves after her film Triangle of Sadness won a Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.

This November, a whole crop of acclaimed local and international titles is coming to Manila. See the films set for screening that will rekindle your love for movie-going:

Highly Anticipated New Titles

At the ongoing QCinema International Film Festival, which is running from November 17 to 26, some of the most noteworthy titles from all over the world, both new and old, are set to screen around the Metro.

Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winning title, Triangle of Sadness opened the festival with a special invite-only screening. Fans of Filipina actress Dolly De Leon need not worry. The film, which has been generating Oscar buzz in recent months, is set to hit cinemas nationwide on November 30.

For the Asia Next Wave section, late actress Cherie Gil’s last movie Elehiya by Loy Arcenas will be shown, alongside Plan 75 by Chie Hayakawa, which was co-produced by Japan, the Philippines, and France.

Cult Classics Remastered

Wong Kar-Wai’s cult classic neo-noir story In The Mood For Love, which BBC named the second on their list of 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century, is set to show in Gateway Cineplex. This is being screened under the festival’s Digitally Restored Classics, alongside Itim (The Rites of May) by Mike de Leon.

Acclaimed LGBTQ+ film A Portrait of a Lady On Fire, which won Best Screenplay and Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, will be played alongside the 2018 Filipino film Billie and Emma by Samantha Lee.

See the complete schedule here.

Silent Screening

The International Silent Film Festival Manila is returning to a physical show after two years of online screenings. The 16th edition of the festival is set to run from November 24 to 27 at Shangri-La Plaza, which includes titles from the Philippines, Germany, Spain, Japan, France, and the UK.

The four-day-long experience will be scored live by a selection of bands like Talahib People’s Music, Anahata, The Brockas, and more. Each day will see discussions from the affiliated organizations, musicians, and filmmakers about various topics, from film restoration to challenges and experiences within the film and music industry.

See the complete schedule here.