The film “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” directed by Morgan Knibbe, will be screened at this year’s QCinema International Film Festival from November 14 to November 23 due to a partnership between Filipino and Dutch producers.

The film examines the hard and busy way of life in Manila. It tells the tale of 11-year-old Ginto, who struggles with his developing sexuality and longs to leave his life as a scavenger and become a mobster. At the same time, Dutch traveler Michael’s world falls apart when he realizes his online Filipino girlfriend has tricked him. He ends up in the city’s red-light district, where evil demand and dark yearning collide. The video depicts a violent and visually breathtaking clash between Western prosperity and postcolonial poverty as their paths ultimately come together.

The movie was produced by Belgium’s CZAR Film, the Philippines’ Popple Pictures, and Amsterdam’s BALDR Film. The Netherlands Film Fund, the Flanders Film Fund, and the Philippine Film Development Council all supported it.

Knibbe, who co-wrote the screenplay with Roelof Jan Minneboo, makes his feature film debut in “The Garden of Earthly Delights.”

Knibbe’s experience working in the Philippines as the cinematographer for a European director’s documentary on street children served as the inspiration for the movie.

In a press release, Knibbe highlighted the film’s powerful “This film exposes postcolonial inequalities that persist globally, confronting audiences with realities that are often conveniently ignored. Privilege lies in looking away. Using the power of cinema, we strive to expose exploitation and marginalization, inspire collective action, and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society, while honoring the utmost respect for the people we portray. This film was a collective endeavor between West and East, embracing diverse perspectives and amplifying authentic narratives to deconstruct harmful stereotypes.”

The team went street casting around Metro Manila ahead of filming. They found the children who would be the main characters in the film in this way. The directors picked JP Rodriguez in the potent main role of Ginto as a result of their quest for realism. At an early age, he worked as a supply porter and a fruit stand vendor in Manila’s biggest marketplace.