Hsu Ya-Ting’s Island of the Winds is a heart-rending documentary that immerses the viewer in the often-overlooked lives of the elderly residents of Lesheng Sanatorium, a former leper colony on the outskirts of Taipei. From the very first moments, the film builds an intimate closeness to its subjects, allowing their memories and struggles to surface…
Category: Asian Cinema
69th BFI London Film Festival: “ChaO” Review
From the endlessly imaginative Japanese studio STUDIO 4°C comes ChaO, a stunning animated feature that marries slapstick comedy with sweet romance, all told through a burst of colour and hand-drawn beauty that feels almost radical in today’s digital-first era. Director Yasuhiro Aoki, making his feature debut, draws on decades of experience in character animation to…
69th BFI London Film Festival: “Human Resource” Review
Abortion remains one of the most polarising debates in the world: a subject weighed down by politics, religion, and morality, but rarely centred on the lived experiences of the women forced to make impossible choices. Too often, the men who play a part in unplanned pregnancies can walk away, while women are left carrying the…
Alula Film Festival 2025 Announces Full Lineup, Returning to Los Angeles to Celebrate Independent Chinese-Language Cinema
The Alula Film Festival has unveiled the complete lineup for its 2025 edition, set to take place from October 16 to 19 at The Culver City Theaters in Los Angeles. Dedicated to independent, arthouse, and auteur-driven works, Alula continues to serve as a vital platform for bold and original Chinese-language cinema. Formerly known as the…
Explore East Asian Cinema at LEAFF 2025: Full Film Lineup
The London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) returns this autumn to celebrate its 10th anniversary. From 23 October to 2 November 2025, the festival will once again transform the capital into a hub of cinematic celebration, bringing over 40 films from across the region to some of London’s most iconic venues. Over the past decade,…
Tetsuya Mariko on His Newest Project, “Dear Stranger” – Exclusive Interview
Born in Tokyo in 1981, filmmaker Tetsuya Mariko began his creative journey making short films while studying at Hosei University. Early works such as The Far East Apartment (2003) and Mariko’s 30 Pirates (2004) earned him early awards, with the latter winning the Grand Prix at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival. His debut feature,…
Behind the Scenes of ENHYPEN’s VR Concert – Exclusive Interview with the AMAZE VR Team
Virtual reality has always been a medium that divides creatives. For some, it’s the future of storytelling, for others, it’s an overwhelming, almost alien technology, one that can never fully replace the intimacy of live performance or the tactile beauty of hand-crafted visuals. But whether you love it or approach it with caution, VR has…
Jia Zhangke and the Pingyao International Film Festival
Jia Zhangke is a name inseparable from contemporary cinema, especially this year. Over the past few months, he has appeared at major festivals worldwide, championing cross-cultural exchange: first the Taipei Film Festival in June, then Venice in August, Busan in mid-September, and finally his own Pingyao International Film Festival (PYIFF) at the end of the…
30th Busan International Film Festival: In Conversation with Frederik Sølberg, Director of “Hana Korea”
Frederik Sølberg is a Danish filmmaker whose work connects the worlds of documentary and narrative cinema, exploring stories that illuminate human identity and belonging. He is known for his careful attention to detail and for bringing real-life experiences to the screen. Fifteen years ago, a first visit to South Korea left an impression on Sølberg….
30th Busan International Film Festival: “Shape of Momo” Review
Shown at this year’s Busan International Film Festival, Tribeny Rai’s debut feature, Shape of Momo, is a wonderful piece of writing. A powerful film that listens closely to the hidden struggles of women living within the limits of tradition. The narrative centres on Bishnu, a 32-year-old who abandons her city job and returns to her…
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