TBA Studios’ historical epic Quezon will make its festival debut this October at the 45th Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF45), as part of Spotlight on the Philippines—a special program honoring Filipino American History Month and celebrating the depth and diversity of Filipino storytelling across the diaspora.
Quite possibly the most anticipated Philippine film of the season—if not in recent memory— Quezon will screen at HIFF on Sunday, October 26 at 2:30 pm at Consolidated Kahala Theater, and again on Tuesday, October 28 at 6:00 p.m. at Consolidated Kapolei Theater.
Tickets are available at QUEZON | HIFF | Hawai’i International Film Festival
Directed by Jerrold Tarog, Quezon is the third chapter in the acclaimed Bayaniverse trilogy, following the box-office and critical successes of Heneral Luna (2015) and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2018).
“We are thrilled to share Quezon with audiences in Hawai’i and beyond at HIFF,” said TBA Studios Chief and movie producer, Daphne Chiu. “We’re thankful to HIFF for its warm Aloha to our film and hope audiences will be as excited to see it abroad as they have been in the Philippines.”
Set during the Philippine Commonwealth, Quezon centers on the titular character’s fight for the country’s independence from the United States. Manuel L. Quezon finds himself playing the brutal game of politics to outmaneuver his rivals—including Leonard Wood, Sergio Osmeña, and Joven Hernando. In his relentless quest for power, he eventually faces off with Emilio Aguinaldo in the 1935 Philippine presidential elections, using charm and favoritism as both weapons and currency, in a campaign that ultimately changes the face of Philippine politics and history
Starring Jericho Rosales in his much-awaited return to the big screen, the film features Mon Confiado as Emilio Aguinaldo, Benjamin Alves as the younger Quezon, and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones) as U.S. Governor-General Leonard Wood.
The ensemble cast also includes Romnick Sarmenta as Sergio Osmeña, Karylle as Aurora Quezon, JC Santos as Manuel Roxas, and Jake Macapagal as Manuel Nieto. Completing the cast are Bodjie Pascua, Angeli Bayani, Jojit Lorenzo, Joross Gamboa, Therese Malvar, Ana Abad Santos, Ketchup Eusebio, and Nico Locco.
Following its festival premiere at HIFF, Quezon will be released theatrically in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East after its run in Philippine cinemas.
Quezon will open exclusively in Philippine cinemas on October 15.
