For a few days each spring, Udine turns into the hub of Asian cinema. The premieres, the talks, the packed schedules, the chance encounters between artists and audiences. These are the visible mechanics of any festival. But what truly gives it meaning is something less tangible: the people. A festival audience is a living, breathing…
Tag: Asian Cinema
The 40th Edition of the BFI Flare Will Run from 18-29 March 2026 at BFI Southbank
Now in its 40th year, the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival returns to BFI Southbank with one of its most expansive and internationally minded editions to date. Long considered a key fixture of the global queer film calendar, the festival continues to balance discovery with legacy, pairing brave new voices with restorations, talks and…
JIB DREAM Fanmeet 6.5: Welcoming Emi & Bonnie in Rome on May 23
Thai rising stars Emi Thasorn Klinnium and Bonnie Pattraphus Borattasuwan are bringing their wonderful chemistry to Italy this spring. The beloved Girls’ Love duo – affectionately known by fans as EmiBonnie – will meet European fans for the first time in Rome on May 23 as part of the JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5, with passes…
“SHINE” Fanmeet Brings Thai BL Stars to Rome This May as Part of JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5
Rome is about to shine a little brighter this spring. On May 24, fans will have the chance to meet the stars of the beloved Thai BL series Shine at a special SHINE Fanmeet in Rome, part of the very unexpected JIB DREAM FANMEET 6.5 event series organised by JUS IN BELLO. For fans of…
“Dead to Rights” Review
In December 1937, the city of Nanjing was thrust into an unimaginable nightmare. During what has become known as the Nanjing Massacre, Japanese forces captured the Chinese capital, committing atrocities that left tens of thousands dead and countless others traumatised. This dark chapter of history, filled with destruction, brutality, and human suffering, provides the setting…
DAOU and OFFROAD Confirmed for JIB Dream Fanmeet 6.5 Spring Festival, Ahead of the Main JIB 7 Event in August
Fans, gather your emotional support snacks – the JIB gods have heard your prayers. After a full year of you politely begging, manifesting, threatening to sell your furniture, and sending suspiciously specific hints online, JIB has finally done it. They’re bringing in one of Thailand’s most beloved pairs, the unstoppable duo: DAOUOFFROAD. Yes, those two….
Singapore International Film Festival: “The 4PLY Clandestine System” Review
Directed by the emerging talent Natalie Sin, The 4PLY Clandestine System has earned its place as one of Singapore’s five standout short films at the 36th Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), competing in the Southeast Asian Short Film Competition. The film’s strength lies not only in its craft but in its local soul; it re-examines…
Singapore International Film Festival: “10s Across the Borders” Review
10s Across the Borders is a pan-Asian documentary feature directed by Chan Sze-Wei, spotlighting the ballroom scene culture in Southeast Asia. Starring three pioneers Xyza Pinklady Mizrahi, Teddy Oricci, and Aurora Sun Labeija from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand, it uncovers this fascinating subculture derived from African and Latinx communities in New York in a…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 6: From Supporting Roles to Leading Stars: Aou & Boom’s Journey – Exclusive Interview
When Aou Thanaboon and Boom Tharatorn first appeared together in Vice Versa, it was a brief supporting role for Aou, and Boom was still finding his footing in the BL world. Yet fans immediately noticed something special on-screen: a chemistry that felt effortless. Looking back, Aou reflects on that early moment with warmth. “Honestly, that…
Japanese Rock Legends GLAY Release New Single “Dead Or Alive”, the Theme for Netflix’s “Record of Ragnarok III”
Japanese rock legends GLAY roar into their 31st year with the release of their long-awaited 63rd single, Dead Or Alive, out today alongside a striking new music video. The track marks the band’s first single in nearly two years, following their milestone 30th anniversary celebrations. Written expressly for the opening theme of Record of Ragnarok…
62nd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival: “Beyond 93 Letters” Review
What is it like to request the end of your own life? Beyond 93 Letters follows the heavy-hearted journey of Ting-ying, who, after earning her PhD, is diagnosed with a brain tumour. After four years of ineffective treatments and relentless pain, she ultimately sends a plea for help to Dignitas, the Swiss organisation that provides…
62nd Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival: “The Long Departure” Review
One of the greatest pleasures, or perhaps essential rituals, at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (TGHFF) is exploring its consistently strong shorts program, particularly the documentary section. They usually struggle to reach wider audiences outside of the festival circuit, making this showcase a rare opportunity. This year, among a blossom of Taiwanese short films,…
“Sand City” Review
Sand City (2025), Mehde Hasan’s debut feature, derives its title from the city of Dhaka: Bangladesh’s capital and a huge industrial metropolis. Directly from the opening, it becomes clear how fundamental the grainy material is to the city and its inhabitants. Sand trucks roam the streets, distributing sand from its harbour to construction sites. The…
Kenshi Yonezu: The Sonic Alchemist Bringing Anime to Life with “JANE DOE”
Kenshi Yonezu, a Japanese shape-shifting creative force, seems to treat genre and medium as gentle suggestions rather than fixed rules. From his early days as a Vocaloid producer, HACHI, to becoming one of Japan’s most influential singer-songwriters, Yonezu has built a reputation for transforming emotions and sound into cinema. And now, he has done it…
