QCinema Industry 2026 taps Quark Henares, expands regional ties, debuts flagship talks

Filmmaker takes helm as QCinema expands the industry platform with ScreenQC Talks, global partnerships, and filmmaker-focused initiatives.

The QCinema International Film Festival is strengthening its industry platform this year, naming Quark Henares as head of QCinema Industry 2026 and tasking him to lead a more expansive program for filmmakers and stakeholders.

QCinema Industry will run from Nov. 18 to 20 as part of the festival’s Nov. 14 to 23 lineup, bringing together filmmakers, producers, government agencies, and private sector players to build partnerships and support the Philippine screen industry.

Henares, an acclaimed filmmaker and producer, said he looks forward to shaping the program after years of participating in the festival in different capacities.

“I’m very proud and excited to join the QCinema team. It’s my favorite festival in the region… Officially joining the team feels like finally being accepted into a club I’ve wanted to be part of for years,” he said in a statement.

Under his leadership, the program will focus on conversations, professional development, and collaboration opportunities with local and international industry leaders.

A key addition this year is ScreenQC Talks, a new flagship conversation series that replaces the Asian Next Wave Film Forum. Named after the QCinema Screen Commission, the series will convene filmmakers, producers, executives, and creatives to tackle the artistic, cultural, technological, and business forces shaping cinema.

The program also introduces Dokyu Days, a forum dedicated to documentary filmmaking, alongside masterclasses and case studies offering insights into notable productions and creative processes.

Beyond programming, QCinema Industry is also deepening regional and cross-sector collaboration through two Creative Cities Network roundtables led by Quezon City as a UNESCO Creative City of Film. 

One roundtable will gather Philippine UNESCO Creative Cities to explore how culture can drive local development, while another will bring together Asian Creative Cities of Film—including Busan, Ho Chi Minh City, Yamagata, and Qingdao—to exchange best practices and foster partnerships.

The lineup also includes the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines Pitch: X-Pand, where filmmakers will present projects to local and international industry professionals.

The full QCinema Industry 2026 program will be announced in the coming weeks.

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