Cinephiles look forward to QCinema, one of the biggest international film festivals in the country, every November. Now on its 14th year, QCinema continues to bring the best of Philippine and world cinema to moviegoers across Quezon City. With this year’s theme, Genre’teurs, a portmanteau of “genre” and “auteur,” the festival looks at films that work within recognizable genres while reflecting the personal style, perspective, and creative choices of their directors.
The 2026 edition, which has more than 80 films across nine sections and a short film program, boasts several critically-acclaimed and must-see Filipino titles. Here are five we think you should check out:
1. Ella Arcangel: Awit ng Pangil at Kuko
Opening the festival this year is Mervin Malonzo’s animated film based on the graphic novel series “Ella Arcangel” by Julius Villanueva. Co-produced by GMA Pictures and featuring Bianca Umali as the voice of Ella, this highly anticipated adaptation also starring Michael V. is the only animated feature and sole Filipino entry in the Asian Next Wave section, QCinema’s flagship competition for emerging Asian auteurs. The film revolves around the titular young mambabarang or witch who uses her supernatural abilities to fight both humans and mythical creatures to protect her community.
2. Makikiraan Po
After premiering out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this year, renowned auteur Lav Diaz is bringing his latest period piece to Philippine shores. Featuring an ensemble cast including Bart Guingona, Ronnie Lazaro, Isabel Sandoval, Yul Servo, Christian Bables, Bong Cabrera, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, and Amado Arjay Babon, Diaz’ Makikiraan Po is set during the Spanish colonial period and showcases Diaz’s distinctive approach to stories of Philippine history, violence, and oppression.
3. Sister Stella L.
As part of the Rediscovery program, a selection of digitally-restored landmark films, Mike de Leon’s seminal drama Sister Stella L. written by Pete Lacaba returns to theaters after undertaking 4K restoration by L’Immagine Ritrovato in partnership with Regal Entertainment. The film will include previously deleted scenes that were censored during the original 1984 release. Alongside the Vilma Santos classic in this section is another Pete Lacaba-written film, Jaguar, directed by Lino Brocka as well as Lav Diaz’ masterful crime drama Batang West Side.
4. Moonglow
In the Before Midnight lineup, QCinema’s section dedicated to bold, adventurous, and boundary-pushing genre cinema from some of the world’s most exciting emerging and established auteurs, is Isabel Sandoval’s Moonglow, an atmospheric neo-noir unfolding in 1970s Manila that follows a police officer (Sandoval) who commits a robbery, only to be assigned to investigate her own crime alongside a former lover (Arjo Atayde).
5. Bomba Bernal
The Dokyu Days section, which features must-watch documentaries from all over the world, features Khavn dela Cruz examining the legacy of the late National Artist for Film Ishamel Bernal in Bomba Bernal, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2025. Interspersed with found footage of bomba films from the 70s in conversation with the writing of Bernal, this video essay offers a provocative and humorous satire of the genre as well as homage to Bernal as a Filipino auteur. Also in Dokyu Days is Elisa Gomez Alvarez’ To the Moon and Back, a documentary about two scientists who dream of space.
This is just a small sampling of what you can watch at QCinema this year. With over 80 features and short films in the lineup, there are sure to be both local and international films fit for any kind of cinephile. Some popular titles worth checking out this year include the buzzy Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything, critically-acclaimed queer comedy Club Kid, and this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Fjord.
The QCinema International Film Festival runs from November 13 to 22, with screenings in Gateway, Trinoma, SM Fairview, Robinson’s Galleria, and other participating cinemas. For the full program, schedule and ticket information, visit qcinema.ph.