Apart from the accessibility of the cinemas and it being an economically viable option, there is a reason (or several) that going to the movies is a great idea for a date night, especially if the couple is still on that getting-to-know stage of the possible relationship.
While movie dates might not be such an original idea, one can learn a lot about a person while watching a film. First, their body language while watching the film. Cliche as it may sound, actions do speak louder than words. How they act while watching speaks volumes about their personality.
Is your date engaged with the movie, or do they look bored, or worse falling asleep? Are they sitting comfortably or fidgeting? Are they trying to connect with you, or are they more interested in holding and eating the popcorn?
How are they with silence? There are some who are a little awkward with sitting in silence in front of the big screen for more or less two hours; while others relish it.
Second, the choice of movie. Studies show that your movie preference is directly related to your personality. Apparently, certain personality types are attracted to particular genres.
According to studies, people who like comedy are more creative and adventurous, albeit a little bit disorganized. While those who prefer horror movies are more reserved, less altruistic, and more neurotic. Action movies are for those who are stable and embrace familiarity, while romance attracts people who are struggling with their emotional stability.
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Speaking of movies, the cinema industry has been bustling. Aside from films on streaming apps, we have film festivals happening simultaneously in the metro.
Take for instance, the QCinema International Film Festival, which is on its 10th edition this year. Aside from its well-curated film selections; some of which have been sourced from the most prestigious festivals from all around the world, the QCinema will be in10city.
The festival, slated from November 17 to 26, opens with the Palme d’Or-winning class satire Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund, which stars our very own Dolly de Leon. The closing film is To The North by Mihai Mincan, a Venice Film Festival entry starring veteran actor Soliman Cruz.
In 10 days, viewers can watch 58 films, including six short film production grantees, grouped into seven full-length sections and three shorts programs.
The Main Competition is back, with the Asian Next Wave, focusing on emerging filmmakers from Southeast Asia and East Asia, including Singaporean Oscar entry Ajoomma by Shuming He; Japanese Oscar entry Plan 75 by Chie Hayakawa; South Korean film Return to Seoul by Davy Chou; Thai film Arnold is a Model Student by Sorayos Prapapan; Autobiography by Indonesian director Makbul Mubarak; 12 Weeks by Anna Isabelle Matutina (Cinemalaya 2022 NETPAC Awardee and Best Actress for Max Eigenmann), and Elehiya by Loy Arcenas (which features the late actress Cherie Gil in her last screen performance).
There’s also the QCShorts competing films: Ang Pagliligtas sa Dalagang Bukid by Jaime Morados; Bold Eagle by Whammy Alcazaren; Luzonensis Mula 7 hanggang 9 by Glenn Barit; Mga Tigre ng Infanta by Rocky De Guzman Morilla; Ngatta Naddaki y Nuang? (Why did the Carabao Cross the Carayan?) by Austin Tan; and Sa Ilog Na Hindi Nagtatapos by JT Trinidad.
“It has grown bigger and stronger beyond our dreams and much sooner than our expectations. It is like the making of a film, QCinema’s growth has been a collaborative effort. While it started as a brainchild of mine 10 years ago, it took a whole city and the efforts of many sectors to propel it to what it is now, one of the country’s most formidable film festivals,” said QC Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Theatrical screenings for all films will be held at Gateway, Trinoma, Powerplant, Cinema 76, and SM North EDSA. Online screenings of QCShorts 2022, QCShorts 2021, and RainbowQC Shorts will be in partnership with VivaMax from November 22 to 26.
For complete details of film schedules and sections, check out qcinema.ph. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Meanwhile, after two years of online iterations, the International Silent Film Festival returns with on-site screenings on November 24 to 27, at the Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong.
Celebrating 16 years of silent film culture, featured films are: British film Piccadilly, live scored by Filipino band Anahata, in collaboration with Sensoria; 1922 German film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, scored by The Brockas, the first cinematic adaptation of Dracula; Charles Burguet and René Le Somptier’s 1919 French piece La sultane de l’amour (The Sultan of Love – A Thousand and One Nuits), to be scored by Bras Pas Pas Pas; 1926 Spanish film Malvaloca, scored by Talahib People’s Music; Japanese film The Lady and the Beard, with Bullet Dumas; and Italian film I Figli Di Nessuno (Nobody’s children) by Ruggero Rindi.
There will also be screening of the best short films from the 2021 Mit Out Sound (MOS): International Silent Film Competition, including EJ Gagui and Marienel Calma’s animated film Ing Tianak, Vahn Pascual’s Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig (Gossips of the Cicadae), and Gabriela Serrano’s Dikit (Cinemalaya 2022 Best Director for Short Film Category). Music scores will be played by the BConcept and Vincent Del Rosario.
For more details, follow Silent Film Festival on Facebook.
Happy watching, lovebirds!
