It’s been more than a year since live events have been put on hold, but the good news—seemingly in time with the upcoming holidays (hmm)—is that quarantine restrictions have been eased. Major art events are slowly coming back, some with hybrid setups. If you’re planning a long-needed art appreciation day soon, here are some ideas.
QCinema
The international film festival is back, running for 10 days from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5. They will have in-person screenings at Gateway Cineplex 10, and online streaming through KTX.ph.
Among the films featured in this hybrid edition are Cannes Festival 2021 Jury Prize winner “Memoria” by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, “The Worst Person in the World” (dir. Joachim Trier), Venice Film Festival 2021’s Leoncino d’Oro Agiscuola Award winner “The Box” (dir. Lorenzo Vigas), Golden Lion winner “Happening” (dir. Audrey Diwan), “Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash” (dir. Edwin), “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi), “Drive My Car” (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi), “Great Freedom” (Sebastian Meise), “Lamb” (dir. Valdimar Johannsson), “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle” (dir. Arthur Harari), and Lav Diaz’s “Historya ni Ha.”
QCinema will also have two Shorts Programs for the first time this year—QCShorts and Asian Shorts. Films under the QCShorts program received production grants from QCinema. Meanwhile, Petersen Vargas’s “How to Die Young in Manila” makes its Philippine premiere in the Asian Shorts program.
Both QCShorts and Asian Shorts will be screened in person and online.
Alt Philippines
This year’s return of Alt Philippines is called “Pause to Reframe.” The art fair features the nine galleries that make up Alt Philippines: Artinformal, Blanc, Finale Art File, Galleria Duemila, MO_Space, The Drawing Room, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, and West Gallery.
Alt Philippines runs from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8 at Finale Art File.
Vinyl on Vinyl x Re:Poblacion Market Day
Enjoying food and drinks surrounded by art is an experience we can all have again soon as Vinyl on Vinyl collaborates with Poblacion pubs for a series of weekend Market Days to be held at SM Aura’s Skypark Lawn.
Featured artists include 1372Designs, 222, Aizel, Cartellino, Cotton Candy Creature, Every By Slowtear, Fabriqca, Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Jorem, Kim, Lunedi Venerdi, Meowinism, Mirminart, Nichole Cruz, Princess Avecilla, Quaintstitch, Salad Day, Sapin Sapin Tanzan, Sillycon, The Analog Cartel, Tyang Karyel, Ube Kendi, Variousbbbb, and VOV Studio.
Poblacion bars and restaurants Agimat, Cantina, A Toda Madre, Cafe Fleur, Crying Tiger, Easy as Pie, Piece of Cake; Kali Burger, Moloko, and Kite Kebab Bar are also taking part.
Market Day happens on Nov. 19 to Nov. 21, Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 4 and 5, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the SM Aura Skypark.
Ang Muling El Bimbo: AHEB Homecoming Concert
While theater productions are yet to see a full return, Full House Theater Company’s hit jukebox musical “Ang Huling El Bimbo” is staging a concert at Resorts World Manila this Dec. 12. The concert can be viewed via livestream on KTX.ph or in person.
The concert is set to feature experiences of the cast during the show. Cast members Tanya Manalang, Reb Atadero, Gab Pangilinan, Bibo Reyes, Phi Palmos, Vic Robinson, Gian Magdangal, OJ Mariano, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, and Sheila Francisco are confirmed to be part of the show.