Udine Fareast Line-up
FEEF 11: AN EXTRAORDINARY EDITION!!!
FOR THE OPENING NIGHT ON FRIDAY 24TH APRIL, A FANTASTIC DOUBLE-BILL OF
EUROPEAN PREMIERES: ACTION MOVIE ONG BAK 2 AND THE BRILLIANT BLACK
COMEDY CRAZY RACER!!
TWO GOALS SCORED BY THAILAND AND CHINA…
For Far East Film, number 11 is truly… an extraordinary edition!!!
Having already reported on a decade of Asian cinema, up until the year 2008, historicallywitnessing and travelling through the unique richness and variety offered by this part ofthe world alone, Udine in 2009, will begin a new cycle, a second “first time”. If, on theone hand, the cinema of the Extreme Orient has by now conquered the attention of all the
major festivals (Venice, Cannes, Berlin), no longer being that unknown universe thatonce-upon-a- time, caught the attention of a pioneering FEFF, on the other hand, it is alsoa cinema that responded to the financial crisis with an authentic revolution: a revolution of
ideas, of ways and of strategies. New stories, new filmmakers, creative freedom, dynamicorganization and production, a capacity to absorb new visions and ways of expression,
paying attention to the public and to the local market, creating variety in both productions
and also in co-productions… Far East Film’s mission could not have ended, therefore,when the Festival turned ten, but on the contrary, it had to reestablish its very necessity,
while looking towards the future. And here we have FEFF 11: 56 titles from 9 countries,that is to say, almost 9 different types of cinematography, not forgetting that the Asianmarket is currently bursting with so much choice, that making the selection turned out to
be even more difficult than usual!!!
The cinema of the Extreme Orient (and as a consequence, also that of the festival in
Udine) is already at the starting blocks: stronger than ever, and ready to put into play itsvery own glorious past, its very tradition and trade, to create a new vision of the future,filled with new ideas for the already established and greatly respected filmmakers, but
also, and above all, with new ideas for new filmmakers… The big screen in Asia is able toreinvent itself and its genres, like it can in no other part of the world. An example: NingHao, class of 1977, is the most surprising talent to emerge from China in recent years, with
the ability to redefine and reestablish the black comedy genre (simply check out CrazyStone from 2006). By no means a coincidence, his new black comedy Crazy Racer, which
amplifies the spirit and humour of Crazy Stone, will open the eleventh edition of theFestival on the evening of the 24th April, together with cult-action Ong Bak 2 by Tony Jaaand Panna Rittikrai.
Starting from 20:00, these two European Premieres will be screened back to back duringan opening night without precedence. A true match made in heaven!!!
UDINE FAR EAST FILM 2009
A 9-DAY JOURNEY!
Departure – 20.00, 24 April
Return – 00.00, 2 May
Press release of 14 April 2009
There is pain and anger at the Far East Film 11: an earthquake
marked our area and our history, in 1976, and the Friulan people who organize andrun the festival, those who witnessed this tragedy directly or indirectly, are not able tobe physically present help our brothers in Abruzzo after the tragedy of 6th April.
We, however, still feel the same pain and the same anger… And it is also with theseemotions, but also with love, that FEFF 11 remembers a friend: WouterBarendrecht, co-chairman of Fortissimo Film Sales (a company which is a pioneer inthe distribution of Asian films in Europe and the promotion and production of newtalents in the Far East), who suddenly passed away a few days ago, at only 43 yearsold.
The admirable and contagious passion that Wouter - a guest at “Ties That Bind” at thelast FEFF - had for Asian cinema will certainly not fade away with his untimelypassing, but will instead serve as an shining example for those who share the samepassion for cinema. Far East Film will humbly take up the mission of continuing thislegacy, and we feel that it is only right that we dedicate FEFF 11 to the memory ofWouter. It is in sadness and with difficulty that we forge ahead and announce the2009 edition: a new adventure which confirms the important and unique position that
Udine has attained in its 11 years of existence.Growing exponentially over the years, it is becoming clear that Far East Film is nolonger merely the Festival of the Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche - given its
characteristic, size, the partners involved, its popularity, reputation and the respect it
has won internationally, it is now a cultural event which draws people from all overthe world, creating a significant economic windfall for the city. Thanks to FEFF,Friuli and Italy are known and understood in the Far East, something which can bereciprocated, but in order to attain this, a new synergy would be necessary betweenCEC and local institutions (state, region and municipality) and the economic forces.
Together, we are coming up with strategies for the future and to make sure that FarEast Film becomes more than just a miracle that relies on limited resources every
year, but to develop it into something that can determine and manage its own destiny
by fully taking advantage of all its potential.
FEFF: 2009 EDITION
[The journey] What is Far East Film? It is a return ticket to the Far East, a
journey that lasts nine days, from 24 April to 2 May, departing from the small portof Udine, making a stop at a faraway universe which the festival brings a little closer!
The Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche of Udine is ready to set sail with a cargoof 56 films from 9 countries, which will show to its lucky passengers the face and thesoul of these lively cities filled with history and passion: from Seoul to Tokyo,Beijing to Hong Kong, Jakarta to Manila, before finally reaching, further east,Taipei, via Singapore and Bangkok…
[Navigating the map of the new popular cinema] Far East Film exists to
help the west navigate the ever-changing map of Asian cinema has the ability to stunand overwhelm by depicting universal dreams and stories with an extraordinarycommunicative force. In doing so, it reaffirms itself as the only outpost on the map that is capable of reinventing popular cinema, which is defined by its freneticrhythm, its willingness to face up to daring themes and styles, its young directors andrevered auteurs, baroque special effects and formal taste. Asian cinema, as shown bythe rich selection at Udine, is unconventional and has a certain respect for its contact
with the audience - simply because it is with the audience that these films want tocommunicate. In this sense, Asia, and by extension, Udine is the home of this newpopular cinema. And Far East Film is one of the few festivals where each genre isgiven equal weight: sentimental films are given the same importance as action films and comedies and melodramas are on the same level as detective films, film noir,fantasy films or ghost flicks.[Deciphering the numbers, on the right path] With an average overall
attendance of over 50,000 people, Far East Film has seen, year after year, an increasein interest from the international, national and local public, all of whom are now loyalfans. And even now, just days before the beginning of the festival, the numbers speakfor themselves - there have already been about a thousand requests for accreditationfor the 2009 edition. There will also be an increase in the affluence of film students andthose studying oriental languages, including students from abroad fromestablishments in London, Budapest, Vienna and Lyon, their journey made easiereconomically by the original scheme, Bed&FEFF, hospitality in a family home.
[Multiplication of venues and initiatives] The 2009 edition will be taking
place in many different locations all over the city, although the main HQ is the
Teatro Nuovo “Giovanni da Udine”, whose Sala Grande seats 1200, and the
Visionario, whose Sala Astra seats 300. The streets will be jam-packed from the
opening night: the Notte Gialla on 24 April will invite guests and citizens of Udine toan enjoyable spring evening which will see the shops staying open until 22.30.Another brand new aspect of the Festival will be the Far East Market, which will takeplace from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 April: the first market of Asian products in the cityof Udine. From 10.00 until 20.00 on these days, twenty colourful stands will recreatean Asian marketplace selling high-quality goods in Via Manin, Piazza Libertà and Via Vittorio Veneto Two important streets, in the heart of the Udine city centre, will
experience a unique weekend, teeming with people and the sounds of a genuine Asianmarket.
From 22.30 on 25 and 30 April and 1 and 2 May, an exceptional location for themusical nights will be the Teatro San Giorgio, which will host major name DJs fromthe big European and Asian capitals for the unmissable Far East Nights. TheVisionario will also play a major role in the event, hosting the retrospective on AnnHui, the Lucia Pescador exhibition and the workshop Ties That Bind (26 to 28 April),which will see a panel of 16 producers and distributors from both Asia and Europe
discuss the current themes of funding and finance structures, marketing strategies,sales and distribution, in both an Asian and European context.
[Itinerary - Hong Kong Stories: The Television Works of Ann Hui]
This year, alongside the tradition Horror Day (a marathon of scares, planned for 29April, with 7 films this year), the audience at Udine will have the chance will havethe chance to see several gems from Ann Hui. An illustrious name from the NewWave of the 1980s, whose career, spanning over 30 years, is perfectly balanced between genre cinema and auteur cinema, Ann Hui will be honored with the screening of over ten of her television works from the „70s (shown in the west forthe first time) and her recent poetic docudrama The Way We Are, which is set in Tin
Shui Wai, a satellite district on the edges of Hong Kong. The stories told by Ann Huiare tightly rooted in Hong Kong, its culture and the Cantonese language. Her ordinaryheroes are men and women who live in the outskirts, whose faces are deeplyevocative of everyday life. They represent the real-life news headlines, denounce social injustice, tell the stories of disadvantaged families, corrupt police, poor immigrants and prostitutes without hope. Hui portrays them with an unequalledsensitivity, which differentiates her from Patrick Tam and Alex, two great directors
who also started out working in television, which allowed them room to be creativeand to experiment - something which is rare in Hong Kong in the „70s.
[Special section. Kicks of Fury - New Muay Thai films] With the shout of
“Real Fight Is Back”, Udine will get to see the spectacular force of Thai Action!
Featuring 4 brand new titles, FEFF presents the latest phenomenon in popular Asiancinema: Thai martial art films, with real, acrobatic kung fu, combats and physicalpower which do not require special effects. In this section, entitled Kicks Of Fury -New Muay Thai Films, audiences will get to see the eagerly awaited Ong Bak 2 at itsEuropean premiere (starring and directed by Tony Jaa, the legitimate heir of BruceLee) and Chocolate, the cult movie starring Jeeja Yanin, who is hailed as an uncontrollable, female Jackie Chan.
2008/2009
An extraordinary season for Far Eastern cinema!
Udine sweeps key films for their European premiere, offering a
unique group of talents billed as the top filmmakers of tomorrow…
2008 and the beginning of 2009 have shown the signs of being an extraordinaryperiod of the cinema of the Far East: despite the crisis, several films have triumphed at national box offices, beating Hollywood blockbusters, and reviving local productions. Feng Xiaogang, the most popular among the Chinese directors, and aFEFF regular, has grossed more than Titanic at box office with his latest film If YouAre The One. Already a cult movie, the Sergio Leone-style action The Good, The
Bad, The Weird, set in Manchuria and directed by Kim Jee-woon (another Udineregular), was the most successful western of all time. With the objective of offeringthe most complete panorama of far eastern cinema, FEFF 11 will be showcasing boththe most revered names of Asian cinema and young talents - Udine‟s mission is to actas a springboard for them. Not overlooking, of course, those who have already graced the screens at Udine, but are still waiting for recognition in the West.
Besides those already mentioned, several big names will be making a return. Amongthem, Takita Yojiro, Oscar winning director of Departures, and Miike Takashi, withthe stunning Yatterman (Yattaman), the film which spent 4 weeks at the top of theJapanese box office and was seen by 2 million moviegoers, and will be FEFF‟sclosing film. Also making an appearance will be the Korean master Yoo Ha, wellknown
in Udine for the unforgettable Dirty Carnival and Once Upon In High School,
and now director of the daring and erotic A Frozen Flower - a stylish period dramaset in the enchanting imperial palace of the Koryo dynasty. In this film, a homosexual king, bound to his obligation to produce an heir, has his young lover make love to his queen… Hong Kong makes an eye-popping contribution with its much-loved action
movies: Connected by the veteran Benny Chan, The Beast Stalker by Dante Lam,and last but not least, Ip Man, a biopic about the legendary master of Bruce Lee, helmed by another FEFF friend, Wilson Yip.
On the list of directors still waiting for overdue recognition in the West, there is Miki Satoshi, who is back at FEFF after last year‟s Adrift In Tokyo with another of his bizarre comedies: Instant Swamp in world premiere. His fellow countryman Sono Sion is also another highlight, with Love Exposure, which runs for four hours, mixing sex, martial arts and satire. Others include: Ning Hao (a third Coen brother?), the father of Chinese black comedy (Crazy Stone, 2006) with the brilliant Crazy Racer,
the stylish Cao Baoping, idolized by Chinese cinephiles with The Equation Of Love And Death. He will also be presenting his stunning 2006 debut Trouble Makers.
Finally, an old friend of the festival: the director Ma Liwen with Desires Of The
Heart, focuses on love‟s labors of five young urban women.
Some of the auteurs that FEFF 11 intends to launch come from the Land of the Rising
Sun, a country which produced a respectable number of 418 films in 2008 (including
many debuts). A name which will certainly be talked about in the future is that of Hanabusa Tsutomu, director of The Handsome Suit: a contemporary fairy tale in which a magical suit transforms an ugly duckling - in this case, a chubby and ugly cook - into the most handsome man in Japan. Rumor is that Hollywood has already knocked on Tsutomu‟s door for the remake rights. Shifting from fairy tale to Armageddon, we‟ll see the apocalypse being avoided thanks to a punk-rock song!
This is the core of Fish Story, the film which, along with the medical thriller The Triumphant General Rouge (follow up to last year‟s The Glorious Team Batista) provides FEFF with the opportunity to showcase the young director Nakamura Yoshihiro, a Japanese M. Night Shyamalan…
From Japan to South Korea - from the latter comes three of the most interesting
debuts of the season: Jang Hoo‟s Rough Cut, a tense gangster movie written and
produced by Kim Ki Duk; the female director Lee Kyung-mi‟s Crush And Blush, an unusual comedy written and produced by none other than Park Chan-wook; finally, Kang Hyoung-chul‟s Scandal Makers, a witty comedy about a lothario radio DJ in his thirties, who suddenly discovers that he is not only a father but also a grandfather, no thanks to a precocious tendency to procreate which is a family trait, as he found out as a teenager. Not only names at FEFF 11, but also an overview of new types of cinematography!
Breaking news at the upcoming edition is in fact, the effervescent Indonesia, which after its timid entrance into Udine last year, in 2009 the country will be represented by
no less than 6 titles, 2 of which are horrors! In a Muslim country, specialising in horror, that also produces 100 films every year, the female directors stand out,
with Radit & Jani (the story of Sid & Nancy set in Jakarta), directed by Upi and Fiction., the brilliant psycho-drama directed by the very young Ms. Mouly Surya).
Needless to say, all this and much more will be experienced during the course of our journey. So it would be a good idea to book, as soon as you can, a good seat… on board!
The 2009 edition in numbers:
China, 7
Hong Kong, 7
Japan, 14
South Korea, 10
Philippines, 3
Thailand, 6
Taiwan, 1
Indonesia, 6
Singapore, 1
Pink movies, 1
Ann Hui, 1 film and about 10 hours of TV Works
