What drives a person to lie in the name of faith – or to believe in something that can’t be proven? In The Stone, a directorial debut from Thai artists Arak Amornsupasiri and Vuthipong Sukhanindr, such questions take center stage. Known for their work in acting, music, and design, the duo steps confidently behind the…
Tag: horror
27th Far East Film Festival: Exploring Asian Monsters in Film: From Yōkai to Gumiho
As much as you try to fight them, monsters never die. They are born out of old folkloric legends, influenced by religion, shamanism, society, and passed down through oral tradition. They live through time and space, re-emerging in different forms with every new generation. It’s of no surprise, then, that they also inhabit contemporary Asian…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Park Ri-woong, Director of “The Land of Morning Calm”
The Land of Morning Calm, directed by Park Ri-woong, is a powerful portrait of a fading Korean fishing village and the emotional dislocation of its residents. Supported by moving performances from Yoon Joo-sang, Yang Hee-kyung, and Khazsak Kramer, the film explores generational divides, economic decline, and the complex, often unspoken tensions surrounding immigration and arranged…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with E.oni, Director of “Love in the Big City”
In the contemporary Korean cinema, director Lee Eon-hee, known professionally as E. oni, is recognised for her quietly revolutionary voice in telling human stories. E.oni was part of the first graduating class of the Korea National University of Arts, where she majored in film. Her early career was rooted in foundational, behind-the-scenes work: she served…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Antoinette Jadaone, Director of “Sunshine”
Filipino filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone has won acclaim for telling intense women’s stories and for having the courage to tackle controversial issues that are mostly avoided in her conservative homeland. But it’s fair to say that Jadaone’s latest production, Sunshine, is her boldest – and perhaps most brilliant – yet. The film features Maris Racal as…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Dong Zijian, Director and Actor of “My Friend An Delie”
Chinese actor Dong Zijian just made his directing debut, and it’s a stellar endeavour. The beautifully shot My Friend An Delie, based on the novel by Shuang Xuetao, is a warm shelter amidst the snowy plains of uncertainty. It’ll hold your hand as it takes you along a slow path toward overcoming grief and pain,…
27th Far East Film Festival: “Angry Squad” Review
When tax collector Kumazawa Jino (Seiyo Uchino) is scammed out of his hard-earned bonus by a professional swindler he is, quite rightly, angry. He decides to go after the man, but when he does find Himuro (Masaki Okada) the scam artist does the unexpected, he offers him a deal: immunity in exchange for help taking…
27th Far East Film Festival: “Dark Nuns” Review
What is the cardinal rule of any horror film? That it needs to be scary, of course. Unfortunately, exorcist drama Dark Nuns seems to have forgotten that. Directed by Kwon Hyuk-jae and a spin-off to The Priests, Dark Nuns follows Sister Giunia (Song Hye-kyo), an unordained nun who moonlights as an exorcist. She is one…
27th Far East Film Festival Announces Its Lineup – A True Celebration of Asian Cinema
The 27th edition of the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine continues its long-standing mission of showing contemporary Asian cinema. With a lineup of 75 films from 11 countries – including 7 world premieres, 15 international premieres, 20 European premieres, and 19 Italian premieres – the festival presents a diverse mix of popular, auteur,…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Minh Quý Trương, Director of “Việt and Nam”
Minh Quý Trương, a filmmaker from Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam, began his artistic journey by attending film school but dropped out in 2008 to pursue independent filmmaking. His early exposure to cinema led him to participate in the Asian Film Academy and the Berlinale Talents program, which enhanced his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Trương’s…
