QCinema Project Market has concluded its third edition, distributing more than P18 million ($310,000) to filmmakers across Southeast Asia in production, post-production, development and marketing support.
The event takes on added significance following Quezon City’s recent designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Film, placing the Philippine capital on par with globally recognized film capitals. The industry arm of Q Cinema International Film Festival held its 2025 edition in Quezon City through two days of pitch sessions, selected meetings, and industry dialogue.
Dominic Bekaert’s “Daddy Cool” won the top honor, winning the Quezon City Best Project Award worth 1 million pesos ($17,240). The Philippine project also won the Kongchak Studio Award for $10,000 worth of audio post-production services and color correction services from Central Digital Lab.
In the QPM Southeast Asia Project Awards category, Russell Morton’s Singaporean project “Penumbra” took first place with 500,000 pesos ($8,620), while Mai Huen Chi’s Vietnamese film “The River Knows Our Names” took second place with 300,000 pesos ($5,170).
In the Philippine project category, Arjanmar H. Rebeta’s “There Is, There Is’t” (Melon, Walla) won first place with P500,000 and Sam Manaksa’s “The Void is Immense in Idle hours” won second place with P300,000. Manacsa’s project was particularly successful, winning multiple partner awards including equipment support, color correction services, and film residency.
Malaysian film director Jun Goh won the QPM Discovery Award worth P500,000 for “The Willing,” while Kabung Delacruz won the Grand Prize worth P100,000 for “Jollywood.”
The Partner Award has significantly expanded support beyond cash prizes. Dean Colin Marchal’s “Jaguar” received $50,000 worth of comprehensive post-production services from Mocha Chai Laboratories. CMB Equipment Support distributed P1 million worth of film equipment to six projects in the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
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.
“The designation of Quezon City as a UNESCO Creative City of Cinema motivates us to aim for greater heights,” said QPM Managing Director Riza Dino Seguerra. “These awards reflect our belief in the region’s filmmakers and our dedication to helping their stories reach audiences around the world.”
The 2025 edition featured projects in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
2025 QCinema Project Market Award Winners
Major awards
Quezon City Best Project Award
“Daddy Cool” Director Dominic Beckert (Philippines) Prize money: 1,000,000 pesos ($17,240)
QPM Southeast Asia Project Award — 1st place
Penumbra Directed by Russell Morton (Singapore) Prize money: 500,000 pesos ($8,620)
QPM Southeast Asia Project Award — 2nd place
“The River Knows Our Names” Director My Huyen Chi (Vietnam) Prize: 300,000 Pesos ($5,170)
QPM Philippines Project Award — 1st place
“There Is, There Is’t” (Melon, Walla), Director: Aljanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines) Prize money: 500,000 pesos ($8,620)
QPM Philippines Project Award — 2nd place
“The Void is Immense in Idle Hours” Director Sam Manakusa (Philippines) Prize money: 300,000 pesos ($5,170)
QPM Discovery Award
“The Willing” Director June Goh (Malaysia) Prize money: 500,000 pesos ($8,620)
best pitch
“Jollywood” directed by Kabung de la Cruz Prize money: 100,000 pesos ($1,700)
Partner award
Mochachai Laboratory Award
“Jaguar” directed by Dean Colin Marchal – Comprehensive post-production services worth up to $50,000
CMB Equipment Support Grant
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis” Director Glenn Barritt (Philippines)
“Dear Wormwood” Director Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie” Director Jaime Pasena II (Philippines)
“The void is immeasurable in idle time” Director Sam Manakusa (Philippines)
“When The World Is Paused” Director Hang Thit Thu Aung (Myanmar)
“Romdur, Scent of the Night” Director Romolpic Rithy (Cambodia)
Film equipment support worth P1,000,000 ($17,240) tailored to project requirements
Konchak Studio Award
“Daddy Cool” Director Dominic Bekaert (Philippines) – $10,000 worth of audio post-production services
Central Digital Lab Color Correction Grant
“The void is immeasurable in idle time” Director Sam Manakusa (Philippines)
“Daddy Cool” Director Dominic Beckert (Philippines)
300,000 pesos ($5,170) worth of color grading and digital mastering services
Barebones Award
“There Is, There Is’t” (Melon, Wala), Director: Aljanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Romdur, Scent of the Night” Director Romolpic Rithy (Cambodia)
“Ghost of the Currents” Director Patipaan Boontalig (Thailand)
“KOMIXXX” Director Jopy Arnaldo (Philippines)
$14,000 worth of color grading services
Terminal Six Post Production Award
“Dear Wormwood” Director Dodo Dayao (Philippines)
$10,000 for post-production support including offline editing and digital prep
Nara Post Production Grant
“What’s Left of Us” Director Tyrone Acerto (Philippines)
Penumbra directed by Russell Morton (Singapore)
“Dancing Gale” Director Samaria Sari Simanjuntak (Indonesia)
One project in the Philippines and two projects in Southeast Asia will each receive 500,000 pesos ($8,620) for audio post-production services
Puregold Cine Panalo Film Marketing Grant
“Ozzy and Onie” Director Jaime Pasena II (Philippines)
200,000 pesos ($3,445) in marketing support. It may be considered as the opening film for the Cinepanaro Film Festival.
Pop-up Film Residency x FAP Project Award
“The void is immeasurable in idle time” Director Sam Manakusa (Philippines)
Pop-up Film Residency x FAP Skill Up Award
Eero Yves Francisco (Production Designer) “Sentinel”
Goldfish Production Award
“When The World Is Paused” Director Hang Thit Thu Aung (Myanmar)
$5,000 plus music instruction and collaboration support with Goldfish’s Taiwanese composer.
Stage Post Audio and Music Productions, Inc. Audio Post Production and Music Grants
“Luzonensis and Floresiensis” Director Glenn Barritt (Philippines)
“There Is, There Is’t” (Melon, Wala), Director: Aljanmar H. Rebeta (Philippines)
“Sentinel” Director Carl Joseph E. Papa (Philippines)
“Ozzy and Onie” Director Jaime Pasena II (Philippines)
P600,000 worth of complete audio post-production and original music score, all handled by the Stage Post team
