It's the largest European event dedicated to Asian popular cinema, and it's... in Friuli Venezia Giulia, of course! For the 24th year in a row, from the 22nd to the 30th of April, Udine will host the renowned Far East Film Festival, finally back in its usual shape – that is, in the theatre: at Teatro Nuovo “Giovanni da Udine” and at Visionario. A multi-cultural, international event involving 13 world premieres, 15 countries from all over Asia represented by 72 movies which were selected from over 400 submissions, thus proving that «Asian filmmakers felt the need to tell stories and above all to reach an audience more urgently than ever», as organizers said.
Moreover, throughout the Far East Film Festival's days, all around the city of Udine there will be plenty of side events: concerts, talks, workshops, kids' activities, Asian food's tastes, cultural and wellness events, a cartoon exhibition, the Pink Night, and joint ventures with the CSS Theatre of Innovation of Friuli Venezia Giulia and other film festivals.
Big stars: Takeshi Kitano and Stephy Tang on the red carpet
Of the 42 movies competing, 13 are up for the White Mulberry Award for Best Debut, and 9 for the White Mulberry Award for Best Screenplay. Plus, a bit of Hollywood-style glamour with special guests such as incredibly talented Hong Kong diva Stephy Tang, and legendary Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano (pictured on the right) who'll be honoured with the Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement.
And for film lovers who couldn't attend, the online section will still be on: created during the difficult, last two years due to the pandemic and supported by MYmovies, it'll give access to a selection of 28 titles from the 2022 line-up (14 available worldwide, 15 available in Europe and all 28 available in Italy). Two types of accreditation are already on sale on the platform at www.mymovies.it/ondemand/24feff/pass/.
At the theatre with Contemporary Asian Performing Arts
Contact FEFF is a new connection between the Far East Film Festival 24 and Teatro Contatto 40. Conceived by the CEC and the CSS Theatre of Innovation of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the project embraces contemporary performing arts of the East and will bring to Teatro S. Giorgio in Udine two artists for four live shows. Jaha Koo, from South Corea, will pre-open the festival on April 21 with “Cuckoo” (also scheduled on the 22nd), and Japanese Michikazu Matsune will take the stage on April 26 and 27 with his performance “Dance, if you want to enter my country!”.
Tickets: [email protected] – www.cssudine.it and online on the Vivaticket circuit.
Moreover, throughout the Far East Film Festival's days, all around the city of Udine there will be plenty of side events: concerts, talks, workshops, kids' activities, Asian food's tastes, cultural and wellness events, a cartoon exhibition, the Pink Night, and joint ventures with the CSS Theatre of Innovation of Friuli Venezia Giulia and other film festivals.
Big stars: Takeshi Kitano and Stephy Tang on the red carpet
Of the 42 movies competing, 13 are up for the White Mulberry Award for Best Debut, and 9 for the White Mulberry Award for Best Screenplay. Plus, a bit of Hollywood-style glamour with special guests such as incredibly talented Hong Kong diva Stephy Tang, and legendary Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano (pictured on the right) who'll be honoured with the Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement.
And for film lovers who couldn't attend, the online section will still be on: created during the difficult, last two years due to the pandemic and supported by MYmovies, it'll give access to a selection of 28 titles from the 2022 line-up (14 available worldwide, 15 available in Europe and all 28 available in Italy). Two types of accreditation are already on sale on the platform at www.mymovies.it/ondemand/24feff/pass/.
At the theatre with Contemporary Asian Performing Arts
Contact FEFF is a new connection between the Far East Film Festival 24 and Teatro Contatto 40. Conceived by the CEC and the CSS Theatre of Innovation of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the project embraces contemporary performing arts of the East and will bring to Teatro S. Giorgio in Udine two artists for four live shows. Jaha Koo, from South Corea, will pre-open the festival on April 21 with “Cuckoo” (also scheduled on the 22nd), and Japanese Michikazu Matsune will take the stage on April 26 and 27 with his performance “Dance, if you want to enter my country!”.
Tickets: [email protected] – www.cssudine.it and online on the Vivaticket circuit.
Focus on Hong Kong and Malaysia, and on cinema professionals
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). So, during 2022 Far East Film Festival, a special touring film programme will be launched: “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” is presented by Create Hong Kong and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. It'll showcase a specially curated 13-film screening programme, focusing on new and emerging talents, and a virtual photographic exhibition. «We started Far East Film Festival with a zero edition completely dedicated to Hong Kong films just a few months after the Handover – FEFF Festival President Sabrina Baracetti recalled – We are honoured and proud to be the first stop of this exciting programme».
The festival will also kick off, for its 24th edition, a new partnership with the 5th Malaysian International Film Festival (5th MIFFest), which is officially scheduled to take place from 10 to 15 July 2022, whereas the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) ceremony will be held on 16 July 2022 in Kuala Lumpur. Joanne Goh, chairperson and founder of the MIFFest, will bring to Udine several of the best Malaysian contemporary movies: «I hope that filmmakers from both countries are able to have some cultural exchange and interactions through this collaboration – she said – It could also bring co-production opportunities for filmmakers in Malaysia». Multi-awards winning Malaysian film star Bront Palarae will be the ambassador for the 5th MIFFest and MGGA.
Plus, this year, FOCUS ASIA, the Far East Film Festival of Udine's industry segment, is back with a lot of projects and a series of lectures, case studies, one-on-one meetings and networking activities that will involve all participants from Asia and Europe. And there's more: 25 directors from 14 countries will take part to the 13th edition of TIES THAT BIND, the leading workshop programme connecting professionals from Asia and Europe.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). So, during 2022 Far East Film Festival, a special touring film programme will be launched: “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” is presented by Create Hong Kong and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. It'll showcase a specially curated 13-film screening programme, focusing on new and emerging talents, and a virtual photographic exhibition. «We started Far East Film Festival with a zero edition completely dedicated to Hong Kong films just a few months after the Handover – FEFF Festival President Sabrina Baracetti recalled – We are honoured and proud to be the first stop of this exciting programme».
The festival will also kick off, for its 24th edition, a new partnership with the 5th Malaysian International Film Festival (5th MIFFest), which is officially scheduled to take place from 10 to 15 July 2022, whereas the Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) ceremony will be held on 16 July 2022 in Kuala Lumpur. Joanne Goh, chairperson and founder of the MIFFest, will bring to Udine several of the best Malaysian contemporary movies: «I hope that filmmakers from both countries are able to have some cultural exchange and interactions through this collaboration – she said – It could also bring co-production opportunities for filmmakers in Malaysia». Multi-awards winning Malaysian film star Bront Palarae will be the ambassador for the 5th MIFFest and MGGA.
Plus, this year, FOCUS ASIA, the Far East Film Festival of Udine's industry segment, is back with a lot of projects and a series of lectures, case studies, one-on-one meetings and networking activities that will involve all participants from Asia and Europe. And there's more: 25 directors from 14 countries will take part to the 13th edition of TIES THAT BIND, the leading workshop programme connecting professionals from Asia and Europe.
Midori Hirano in concert and a multitude of events
Famed Japanese musician and composer Midori Hirano, creator of beautiful soudscapes, will be performing live with an electro-acoustic set at Visionario, on April 23, under the double banner of “Sexto 'Nplugged” music festival and FEFF24.
The Friuli Cartoon Arts Palace in Pordenone will pay tribute to Japanese maestro Mizuki Shigeru (1922/2015) on the centenary of his birth with the exhibition “Tales from the Dusk”.
Plenty of events all around Udine will offer further insights into Asian culture in its every aspect. There'll be talks on varied subjects: “Kusamono: giving new life” and “Little Japanese gardening manual” (23/04); Korean aesthetics and pop culture (24/04); The Two Faces of the Japanese Tattoo (25/04); Flower Culture in Japan (26/04); Bonsai technique seminar (30/04).
A string of wellness events, most of them open air, include sessions of mindfulness, yoga, meditation, Taijiquan, shiatsu. And a Cosplay Contest can't be missed, on April 24 in piazza San Giacomo! Let's not forget about delicious Asian food, either... But to see all the events, click here.
About the Far East Film Festival
For Asian producers and distributors, during these years Udine has established itself as a launchpad for Europe, and the West in general. Running since 1999, after a “zero” edition dedicated to Hong Kong cinema in 1998, the Far East Film Festival has played host to film legends like Jackie Chan and Joe Hisaishi, cult directors like Johnnie To and Takashi Miike, stars, divas and key players. Even the terrible 2020 couldn’t stop it – it just moved online. Inclusive and pop-culture-centric, the FEFF doesn’t end after the nine days of the festival but continues throughout the year with film and TV distribution, home video, and even streaming through the Fareastream digital platform.
Famed Japanese musician and composer Midori Hirano, creator of beautiful soudscapes, will be performing live with an electro-acoustic set at Visionario, on April 23, under the double banner of “Sexto 'Nplugged” music festival and FEFF24.
The Friuli Cartoon Arts Palace in Pordenone will pay tribute to Japanese maestro Mizuki Shigeru (1922/2015) on the centenary of his birth with the exhibition “Tales from the Dusk”.
Plenty of events all around Udine will offer further insights into Asian culture in its every aspect. There'll be talks on varied subjects: “Kusamono: giving new life” and “Little Japanese gardening manual” (23/04); Korean aesthetics and pop culture (24/04); The Two Faces of the Japanese Tattoo (25/04); Flower Culture in Japan (26/04); Bonsai technique seminar (30/04).
A string of wellness events, most of them open air, include sessions of mindfulness, yoga, meditation, Taijiquan, shiatsu. And a Cosplay Contest can't be missed, on April 24 in piazza San Giacomo! Let's not forget about delicious Asian food, either... But to see all the events, click here.
About the Far East Film Festival
For Asian producers and distributors, during these years Udine has established itself as a launchpad for Europe, and the West in general. Running since 1999, after a “zero” edition dedicated to Hong Kong cinema in 1998, the Far East Film Festival has played host to film legends like Jackie Chan and Joe Hisaishi, cult directors like Johnnie To and Takashi Miike, stars, divas and key players. Even the terrible 2020 couldn’t stop it – it just moved online. Inclusive and pop-culture-centric, the FEFF doesn’t end after the nine days of the festival but continues throughout the year with film and TV distribution, home video, and even streaming through the Fareastream digital platform.
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