QCinema International Film Festival’s Screen International showcases the year’s most talked-about, award-winning films from around the world, carefully curated to engage audiences with diverse perspectives and distinct storytelling styles. This section features 10 films from world-renowned directors, each celebrated for their unique approaches and acclaimed works.

From Cannes, QCinema presents four major award winners: All We Imagine as Light by Payal Kapadia, the first Indian film in decades to compete in Cannes’ main competition, where it won the Grand Prix; Best Director winner Grand Tour by Miguel Gomes, Portugal’s entry for the 97th Academy Awards; Critics’ Week Grand Prize winner Simon of the Mountain by Federico Luis; and Palme d’Or winner Anora by Sean Baker, regarded as a strong Oscar contender.

Set in Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light captures the lives of three nurses, Prabha, Anu, and Parvaty (Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam). Each woman faces complex issues related to the men in their lives: an estranged husband, a relationship tainted by gossip, and an uncertain future due to missing documentation. Through their stories, Kapadia crafts an evocative portrayal of the challenges of urban life.

Grand Tour is set in 1917 and follows Edward (Gonçalo Waddington), a British civil servant in Burma who, upon receiving a telegram from his fiancée Molly (Crista Alfaiate) after years apart, panics and embarks on a journey across Asia in search of love. The film presents an Orientalist depiction of an Asia permeated by Western influence.

Simon of the Mountain follows Simon (Lorenzo Ferro), whose eccentric behavior and enigmatic nature leave others questioning his motives as he befriends a group of intellectually disabled individuals, while his mother insists he is simply misunderstood. This film delves into reality and perception, creating a story about belonging in a world where no one quite understands him.

Anora centers on Brooklyn sex worker Anora (Mikey Madison), who is paid $15,000 by a Russian billionaire’s son to spend a week with him. After an impulsive, ketamine-fueled wedding in Las Vegas, word reaches Russia, prompting Ivan’s father to annul the marriage. Determined to make the marriage work, Anora fights for the life she envisions, showcasing Baker’s signature exploration of class struggle’s human side.

Fresh from Venice world premieres are four out-of-competition titles: Phantosmia by Pinoy auteur Lav Diaz; The End, a musical-fantasy by Joshua Oppenheimer; The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre de la Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, the most expensive French film of 2024; and the Venice Golden Lion winner, The Room Next Door by Pedro Almodóvar.

Lav Diaz’s Phantosmia follows Hilarion Zabala (Ronnie Lazaro), a retired soldier haunted by a mysterious, lingering phantom smell that prevents him from leading a normal life. Recommended to re-enlist, he is stationed on a remote island, confronting violent memories from his past. Diaz offers a reflective journey through memory, trauma, and survival.

In The End, an affluent family resides in a mansion built inside a salt mine, cut off from a devastated outside world. Living comfortably, they refuse to confront their potential role in the disaster until an unexpected visitor (Moses Ingram) forces them to question their lives and face the disturbing reality they helped create.

An adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney), wrongfully imprisoned on his wedding day. After escaping and discovering hidden treasure, he returns to society as the Count of Monte Cristo, seeking revenge against those who betrayed him.

The Room Next Door, based on Sigrid Nuñez’s What Are You Going Through, follows Ingrid and Martha (Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton) as they reconnect after years apart. Once colleagues, they find themselves reunited when Martha requests that Ingrid stay by her side through a medically-assisted suicide, exploring friendship, mortality, and dignity in Almodóvar’s singular style.

Completing the section are two recent titles from the San Sebastian Film Festival – Afternoons of Solitude by Albert Serra, a documentary feature that won three awards, including Best Film, and When Fall is Coming by François Ozon, which won Best Screenplay.

Afternoons of Solitude provides an intimate glimpse into the life of Andrés Roca Rey, a celebrated toreador. The documentary captures the ritualistic preparation and personal solitude surrounding his blood sport, offering an honest look at both the spectacle and intense private world of bullfighting.

When Fall is Coming centers on Michelle (Hélène Vincent), living a quiet life in Burgundy, gardening and attending church until a poisonous mushroom accident threatens her relationship with her daughter. As tensions rise, Michelle confronts old wounds, leading to a tender exploration of family ties.

Screen International promises an unparalleled experience exemplifying “The Gaze,” inviting audiences to explore these powerful narratives through the filmmakers’ unique perspectives and distinct lenses, offering ways of seeing that deepen cinema’s impact as a medium for storytelling.

QCinema runs from November 8 to 17 across Gateway Cineplex 18, Ayala Malls Cinema at Trinoma, Robinson’s Movieworld at Robinsons Magnolia, Red Carpet at Shangri-La Plaza, and Powerplant Mall. For more information, visit www.qcinema.ph.