Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival returns in 2014

The Shape of the Night (dir. Noboru Nakamura)

Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival returns in 2014

22 January 2014

The Asia House Pan-Asia Film Festival 2014 edition will return on 26 February to 9 March to showcase the dynamic breadth and variety of Asian cinema, from premieres of all-star Japanese, Chinese and Indian productions to independent and innovative films from Thailand, Iran and Cambodia.

Sponsored by Prudential plc for the fourth year running, the sixth festival includes seven UK premieres, two London premieres and a special Archive Gala screening of a newly-restored Japanese classic 60s film The Shape of the Night, to mark the centenary of acclaimed Japanese director Noboru Nakamura.

Asian interpretations of well-known Western films will feature this year, including the Opening Gala and UK premiere of Sang-il Lee’s Japanese remake of Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven and a Chinese adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons, starring Zhang Ziyi.

The selection this year includes films that address difficult moments from Asia’s recent history: A Prayer for Rain starring Martin Sheen dramatises the Bhopal tragedy and recent and Academy Award nominee The Missing Picture is a memoir of the Khmer Rouge era of Cambodian history.

Other highlights of the programme include Mary is Happy, Mary is Happy, 36, Kami’s Party (which address youth culture in modern Asia) and a link-up with the East End Film Festival’s Cutting East youth festival.

Screenings will take place at various venues across London as well as in Glasgow and Leeds.

Read the full programme here.