QC’s first rainbow pride film festival runs until Friday

Quezon City is screening its first-ever RainbowQC Pride Film Festival from June 25 to 27, showcasing a lineup of local and international queer films in celebration of Pride Month.

“It is a stand-alone event dedicated to queer cinema, showcasing international and local films that reflect the diversity and complexity of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and others) experiences,” Maria Eleanor R. Juan, Quezon City District 6 councilor and gender rights advocate, said during the first Pride Month celebration of Fisher Mall in Quezon City.”

In a separate video released by the local government, Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina G. “Joy” Belmonte said the film festival is currently screening five full-length feature films and four short films.

“(These are) well-curated films representing different countries all over the world, showcasing the queer experiences of all our LGBTQIA+ community members. There is something for everyone,” Ms. Belmonte said.

The RainbowQC Pride Film Festival, curated by QCinema Artistic Director Ed Lejano, offers a thorough selection of local and international films, including The Wedding Banquet (USA), Some Nights I Feel Like Walking (Italy, Philippines, Singapore), Cocoon (Germany), and Consequences (Slovenia).

Since Wednesday, the film festival has been rolling at Cinema 12 and Cineplex 18 in Gateway Mall 2, Cubao, Quezon City.

It is set to wrap up on Friday with a special free screening of short films, featuring works such as Abutan Man Tayo ng House Lights by Apa Agbayani, A Catholic Schoolgirl by Myra Angeline Soriaso, the river that never ends by JT Trinidad, Microplastics by Lino Balmes, and Water Sports by Whammy Alcazaren.

“We encourage everyone to come here and join us, whether you are a member of the community or an ally. You’ll learn so much from these films, and of course, ipagpapatuloy natin ang laban sa pagkakapantay-pantay (we will continue the fight for equality),” Ms. Belmonte said.

Though the final credits are about to roll on the film festival this Friday, the Quezon City government is gearing up for an even grander celebration — the 2025 edition of Lov3Laban: Pride PH Festival, the country’s biggest and perhaps most highly anticipated annual Pride Month event, set to take place this Saturday at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Last year’s Love Laban 2 Everyone Pride PH Festival in Quezon City drew an estimated 228,000 attendees to the Quezon Memorial Circle. – Edg Adrian A. Eva