The London East Asia Film Festival, also known as LEAFF is back for its 8th edition, bringing the best of East Asian cinema and culture to the capital. Starting on October 18th with the gripping drama The Boys by Director Chung Ji-Young at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, the festival will run until October 29th. The Closing Night will feature Korea’s entry for the 96th Academy Awards, Concrete Utopia, directed by the prestigious Korean director Um Tae-hwa.

LEAFF has expanded its scope to include cinematic gems from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Tibet, Singapore, and the Philippines. The 2023 programme focuses on themes of justice and good fortune, providing unique perspectives from East Asian filmmakers on subjects such as socio-economic issues, intergenerational relationships, climate change, identity, and belonging.

The festival will host 12 international premieres and 25 UK premieres, taking place at venues including ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, ODEON Luxe West End, and the Cinema at Selfridges, all equipped with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for an immersive cinema experience. LEAFF’s programme also comprises eight carefully curated strands, overseen by Festival Director Hyejung Jeon and a team of advisors and programmers based in East Asia and the UK.

LEAFF Official Selection

The Official Selection presents the finest East Asian films of the year, ranging from blockbusters to critically acclaimed arthouse gems. Audiences can look forward to screenings of highly recommended films, including In Our Day by Hong Sang-soo, Shadowless Tower by Zhang Lu, Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu, Breaking Ice by Anthony Chen, and the Hong Kong box-office hit Mad Fate by Soi Cheang.

Retrospective: Director Chung Ji-Young

To mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the UK and Korea, LEAFF presents a special retrospective strand dedicated to Director Chung Ji-Young. Often compared to Ken Loach, Chung explores diverse socio-economic issues through his films, spanning from the 1990s with White Badge and Life and Death of the Hollywood Kid to his latest work, The Boys.

Stories of Women

The popular Stories of Women strand returns with five compelling titles from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and the Philippines. These films explore the challenges faced by women of different ages and backgrounds. The selection includes Her Hobby by Director Ha Myung-mi, Little Blue by Director Yi-fang, Lonely Eighteen by Director Tracy Hsu, Untold Herstory by Director Zero Chou, and Her Locket.

Competition

LEAFF’s Competition spotlights emerging directors from East Asia, with a distinguished jury including members of London’s Critics’ Circle. Films by directors with three features or less, such as GAGA, AMIKO, Iron Mask, The Cord of Life, Day Off, Hopeless, and Stand Up Story will compete for recognition.

Classics Restored

In partnership with the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, LEAFF will present two recently restored classics from Taiwan, Ah Fei (1983) and Dust of Angels (1992), offering a glimpse into Taiwan’s cinematic heritage.

Cherish the World

A newly introduced strand, Cherish the World, features two impactful documentaries by Director Hirokazu Kore-eda and Director Hwang Yun, encouraging reflection on our environment and the need for positive change.

LGBTQIA+

The LGBTQIA+ strand explores love and self-discovery through films such as Egoist, Green Night, and Kissing the Ground You Walked On.

Halloween Horror Special

And if you have nerves of steel. LEAFF offers a thrilling Halloween Horror Special with Japanese horror film Immersion by Director Takashi Shimizu and Home Sweet Home by Director Takumi Saitoh.

LEAFF is where the magic of East Asian cinema comes to life, and this year’s programme promises to be a cinematic journey like no other. So don’t miss it and get yourself tickets.