Helsinki

34th Helsinki International Film Festival

Date: 16 – 26 September 2021

Location: Helsinki (Bio Rex, Kinopalatsi, Cinema Orion, Kino Engel, Kino Regina, Finnkino Maxim & Online platform)

Guest: Atsushi Sakahara

Screening: Better Days, Introduction, Me and the Cult Leader, Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, Under the Open Sky, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

Partners: Helsinki International Film Festival

With the shared objective of promoting and recognizing outstanding Asian cinematic works, the Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA) collaborates with the Helsinki International Film Festival (HIFF) for the first time in presenting AFAA’s flagship film roadshow – Asian Cinerama (the programme). Financially supported by Create Hong Kong and the Film Development Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Asian Cinerama take place at Bio Rex, Kinopalatsi, Cinema Orion, Kino Engel, Kino Regina and Maxim, from 16 to 26 September 2021 in Helsinki, Finland.

 

The programme is opened with Berlin Grand Jury Prize winner, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Japanese director Hamaguchi brings a gentle warmth to this ingenious collection of three stories united by themes of fate and mystery.

Other outstanding Asian films that will showcase in the programme include, Derek TSANG’s Better Days, tackles thorny issues related to China’s education system and wider societal dysfunction. The film is Hong Kong’s first Oscar submission to be nominated for best international feature film since 1993. Introduction, shot in black and white, South Korean minimalist Hong Sang-soo’s fifth film to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival. Me and the Cult Leader, follows Tokyo subway gas attack victim and member of the cult responsible across the country, take a powerful journey into the painful past in this mesmerizing, achingly human Japanese documentary.

 

Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, the long-awaited omnibus film by seven of Hong Kong’s most revered auteurs – Sammo HUNG, Ann HUI, Patrick TAM, YUEN Wo Ping, Johnnie TO, the late Ringo LAM and TSUI Hark who come together to compose a symphony of stories about their city. Under the Open Sky, directed with sympathy by Nishikawa Miwa, leading actor Yakusho Koji delivers an enthralling turn as a middle-aged gangster trying to find his place in Japanese society after serving a long prison term for murder.

Programme Trailer

Other Asian Cinerama
Hong Kong Striving to connect cinephiles and filmmakers across different regions in Asia and expanding the Asian film market worldwide, we hope to facilitate diverse cultural consumption within the global community through the cinematic medium.
Dubai Asian Film Awards Academy has collaborated with Dubai independent cinema Cinema Akil for the first time to host the "Asian Cinerama: Hong Kong Film Festival" in Dubai from November 10th to 16th.
Tokyo 3 latest Hong Kong films and 2 classic works of Tony Leung were screened during the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Hong Kong Eight outstanding nominated films of the 16th Asian Film Awards were screened in Hong Kong. The theatre was full for many sessions, and the atmosphere was hot!
Kuala Lumpur 7 Hong Kong films were premiered in Malaysia. Including the Asian premiere of director Keian Chui’s REMEMBER WHAT I FORGOT.
Jakarta Six Hong Kong films were shown in Indonesia. Showcase the rich and vibrant creativity of contemporary movies produced out of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Both opening and closing films of Asian Cinerama, Hokusai and Waiting for My Cup of Tea, made their Hong Kong premiere at the programme.
Warsaw The best film of the 15th Asian Film Awards "Wife of a Spy" had its grand premiere in Warsaw, and director Kiyoshi Kurosawa also participated in the online sharing session.
Toronto For the first time, Asian Cinerama was held in Toronto, allowing local audiences to watch different styles of Asian films.
Hawaii Over thousand audiences watched different Asian films through Asian Cinerama in Hawaii.

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