QCinema’s RainbowQC Steps into the Spotlight with a Standalone Pride Film Fest This June

For Pride Month this year, QCinema is going all in. What was once just a special section within the festival is now taking center stage. Meet the RainbowQC Pride Film Festival—a newly launched, fully fledged celebration of queer cinema that puts authentic LGBTQIA+ stories front and center.

Happening from June 25 to 27, 2025, at Gateway Cineplex 18 in Gateway Mall 2, Cubao, the festival is part of Quezon City’s official Pride Month celebration. With a handpicked lineup of powerful films from the Philippines and across the globe, RainbowQC invites moviegoers to experience the richness, complexity, and emotional depth of queer lives onscreen.

A Celebration of Identity, Love, and Community

Leading the RainbowQC program is a must-watch Southeast Asian premiere: The Wedding Banquet, directed by Andrew Ahn. This modern take on Ang Lee’s beloved classic reimagines the story through a contemporary lens, delving into themes of identity, family, and the evolving nature of relationships in today’s world. It’s bold, touching, and bound to spark conversation.

Local storytelling also takes a powerful spotlight with Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, marking its Philippine premiere. Directed by Petersen Vargas and starring a breakout ensemble including Jomari Angeles, Miguel Odron, and Gold Azeron, the film traces the journey of young hustlers who reunite to honor a friend’s final wish. It’s a deeply emotional portrait of chosen families, queer brotherhood, and the search for meaning amidst grief.

Both films are priced at ₱300 per ticket.

Global Queer Cinema at Your Fingertips

The festival also includes stunning international titles, made accessible to local audiences thanks to its cultural partners. These films include:

Cocoon (Kokon) by Leonie Krippendorff – a tender coming-of-age story set in Berlin that captures the nuances of first love and identity.

Consequences by Darko Štante – a gripping Slovenian drama exploring masculinity, power, and desire within a youth detention center.

These screenings are available for just ₱150 each, with support from Goethe-Institut and the Embassy of Slovenia.

RainbowQC Shorts: A Must-See Free Program

One of the most anticipated parts of the festival? RainbowQC Shorts: The First Water is the Body, a free screening curated by Jason Tan Liwag. Inspired by Natalie Diaz’s 2020 poem, the collection features a deeply moving slate of short films by Filipino queer filmmakers, each weaving water and longing into their visual language.

Here’s what’s showing in the shorts lineup:

Abutan Man Tayo ng House Lights by Apa Agbayani – a dreamy sendoff to one last rave for a middle-aged gay man in a futuristic Manila.

A Catholic Schoolgirl by Myra Angeline Soriaso – a poignant look at a student’s hidden feelings for a nun in a strict religious setting.

The River That Never Ends by JT Trinidad – a haunting story of a trans woman navigating a decaying city as a companion-for-hire.

Microplastics by Lino Balmes – a quiet yet powerful portrait of a boy seeking connection in an increasingly artificial world.

Water Sports by Whammy Alcazaren – a post-apocalyptic queer love story starring the late Ricky Davao as two students navigate a climate-ravaged world through their bond.

These shorts are not just visually inventive—they’re emotionally resonant, providing snapshots of queer life across generations and identities.

Tickets, Access, and More

Each screening is priced affordably to make the festival accessible to a wider audience. Whether you’re there to catch a Southeast Asian premiere or explore thought-provoking shorts, RainbowQC is designed to welcome everyone—from longtime cinephiles to first-time festival goers.

For full schedules, ticket details, and updates, visit qcinema.ph or follow @qcinemaph on social media.