Yakuza films, as a genre, have evolved exponentially since they first emerged in the silent movie era of the Japanese film industry. Initially depicted as sympathetic Robin Hood-like characters who were forced to live their lives as outlaws, it wasn’t until the 1970s that the violent, brutish image of Yakuza as we know it came…
28th Far East Film Festival: KOCCA on Screen with Yoo Yeon-seok in Attendance
A new “letter” is being added to the story of the 28th Far East Film Festival: K. K stands for Korea, and also for KOCCA – the Korea Creative Content Agency. One of the key highlights of this year’s edition is a new collaboration between the Udine-based festival and KOCCA, the South Korean government organisation…
“Pursuit of Jade” Review: Why the C-Drama Is a Massive Success
Camp, or genuinely excellent? Many C-Dramas teeter between the two. Widely beloved, The Untamed is a prime example of plentiful awkward effects being forgiven on account of its compelling story and believable chemistry between characters. On the complete flip side, recently aired Whispers of Fate boasts its budget on all the VFX necessary for a…
Panther Chan on Her New Album and Her Upcoming London Show – Exclusive Interview
Panther Chan doesn’t walk into a room unnoticed and neither does her music. There’s something very real about her presence. It comes from years of hard work, self-reflection, and staying true to who she is as an artist. She speaks thoughtfully, not because she has to, but because she means what she says. Over the…
“Cityscapes – New Horizons”: Gaho & KAVE Bring an Excellent Performance to London- Concert Review
Gaho’s sound hits like a flash of light: impossible to ignore. Before stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, he was already developing the sound of K-dramas, writing memorable OSTs that reached every corner of the world. His journey began behind the scenes with Come To Me for While You Were Sleeping, but it…
50th Hong Kong International Film Festival: “The Black Cannon Incident” Review
The Hong Kong International Film Festival has celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. This year’s special programme, “Revisiting Chinese Cinema: The Beginning of a New Journey,” features a curated selection of Chinese-language films for which HKIFF served as a gateway to international recognition for both the films and their filmmakers. The 1980s were a golden…
50th Hong Kong International Film Festival: “We Are Nothing At All” Review
Between 2023 and 2025, Herman Yau churned out seven China–Hong Kong co-productions and mainland Chinese films, including large-scale, action-packed blockbusters like the gritty customs thriller Customs Frontline (2024) and the trilogy capper The White Storm 3: Heaven or Hell (2023). These films demonstrate Yau’s capacity to produce commercially satisfying spectacles with remarkable speed and energy,…
28th Far East Film Festival: Wim Wenders to Present Lifetime Award to Koji Yakusho in Udine
It begins with a friendship – and then, a film that has moved audiences around the world. On 25 April, Wim Wenders will be in Udine to personally present the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award to his friend and Perfect Days star, Koji Yakusho, on the stage of the Teatro Nuovo “Giovanni da Udine.” Shot…
Korean London Presents: EL CAPITXN to Finally Perform in London
Something remarkable happens when someone who has spent years building for others finally creates for themselves. For most listeners, EL CAPITXN has long been a name tucked into album credits, a producer’s signature, a songwriter’s imprint, the hand behind some of K-pop’s most emotionally powerful records. Within the industry, though, he has always been something of a…
Panther Chan Announces First-Ever London Concert with “The Complete Me” Tour
London is about to welcome a new voice from Hong Kong. Singer-songwriter Panther Chan will make her long-awaited UK debut on June 5, 2026, performing at Indigo at The O2 after a run of sold-out shows earlier this year. For Chan, this is a meaningful step beyond Asia and a chance to connect with audiences…
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