The annual Terracotta Far East Film Festival is back in London for a fifth time, showcasing the best that contemporary Asian cinema has to offer.
This year, 27 films, each chosen for its reflection of the vibrancy of Asian filmmaking, will be screened at either The Prince Charles Cinema or the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).
Hong Kong blockbuster Cold War — a crime-action film about a highjacked police van — kicks of proceedings, and is closely followed in the action-stakes by The Assassins, a Chinese sword-fighting epic about love, power and betrayal.
Softer sides can be enticed with South Korean offering A Werewolf Boy, a fantasy romance that offers a twist on the traditional fairytale structure, while those with a head for horror can brace themselves for the independent Japanese horror flick Henge.
The frightfest continues with the return of last year’s Terror Cotta Horror All-Nighter on 7 June. See if you can last the night at this five film horror-a-thon which runs from 11.30pm and spits you back out at 7am the next morning.
New this year is the In Memory Of section, where the 10 year anniversary of the deaths of Hong Kong stars Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui is marked with screenings of their much-loved work.
Other highlights include Spotlight On: Indonesia at the ICA, a week dedicated to the rising film powerhouse that is Indonesian cinema, an opportunity to win a trip to Hong Kong by entering the festival’s Short Film Competition, and a variety of masterclasses and Q&A sessions with guest actors and directors.
The Terracotta Far East Film Festival runs 6-15 June 2013 at The Prince Charles Cinema and the ICA. Ticket prices vary depending on the event, all tickets can be purchased from the festival’s official website.
