TeRRacoTTa Far East FF 2013 – lOOk & bOOk

MMM is TTT.

Terra-bly Thankful to Terracotta. Truly.

Any regular readers of MMM will probably know my appreciation for Terracotta already – both in the films their DVD / Blu-ray / Media label sells and, just as importantly their yearly festival in London.

Yes, the TERRACOTTA FAR EAST FILM FESTIVAL returns!

Not only this, it EXPANDS TO NEW VENUES, WITH NEW SECTIONS AND DATES.

And… Having recently attended their Press Conference, I am even more behind what Terracotta have to offer this year. Not only are their a few MASSIVE Asian films this year – as well as important guests – 3 of the films I can already say are WELL WORTH checking out! That’s if you’re not already planning in seeing the whole lot anyway.

It’s perhaps apt that not only will this this year’s festival make it 3 different years I’ve attended but also that the 3 films I’ve witnessed ahead of this year’s event are from 3 different countries… And these were seen at 2 festivals (in Korea) & on a flight ‘from’ Korea.

Anyway, to reiterate details in the Press Release and Press Conference (& because I’m hard ‘Pressed’ to pick a favourite part!) here is what’s happening…:

[Apologies for this rather lengthy, wordy but necessary preview]

The Terracotta Festival, for its 5th year anniversary, will expand from the usual 4-days to 10-days from Thursday 6 June to Saturday 15 June, 2013. The festival will increase the number of films and venues, and still remain in the heart of the capital.

To commemorate this special occasion, Terracotta Festival organisers are delighted to announce that more strands have been added to the line-up. The four strands of the festival are:

CURRENT ASIAN CINEMA
IN MEMORY OF: Leslie Cheung & Anita Mui
SPOTLIGHT ON: Indonesia
TERROR COTTA Horror All-Nighter [because this time around it really IS All Night!]

Terracotta Festival will continue to screen its usual selection of best contemporary films from any genre, any Far East country, at the Prince Charles Cinema from 6-9 June 2013.

Like previous editions, guest actors and directors will attend the festival to introduce their film, host Q&A sessions, run Masterclasses and interact with festival goers. This will be the CURRENT ASIAN CINEMA section of the festival.

Two prolific and well respected Hong Kong actors, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, passed away unexpectedly, and in tragic circumstances, in 2003. Ten years later, their impression on film lovers around the world is still very strong. Terracotta Festival would like to take this opportunity to present some highlights of their screen legacy.

An additional five days from 11-15 June 2013 have been added for a new section entirely dedicated to an emerging territory. This section will be called “SPOTLIGHT ON:…” and this year the festival will shine the spotlight on contemporary Indonesian cinema.
Taking place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), this section will showcase the exciting breadth of genres, directors and subject matters from this country.

Whilst the Prince Charles Cinema is a perfect location (leading cult cinema in the centre of Chinatown), the new structure and the ICA will give a wider audience more opportunities to take part in the Festival.

Last but not least, the Terror Cotta Horror All-Nighter returns following the success of last year’s event. Showcasing the diversity and ingenuity of horror from the Far East, expect a mix of ghosts, monsters, zombies, demons and cold-blooded killers from various East Asian territories.

What is Bobo are the official design sponsors of the Terracotta Far East Film Festival for the 3rd consecutive year, creating the festivals branding, on screen identity and all of its promotional material.

Festival Director Joey Leung comments: “It is very encouraging for us to see the growth in audience numbers each year, and the appetite of audiences to explore deeper into this area of International Cinema. This year’s enlarged festival will bring a depth to our programme, a wider range of entertaining stories and an exciting line-up of guests”.

What Joey doesn’t mention, at least in those comments – and therefore MMM is compelled to do so – is that this year’s festival is also running a film competition.  That’s right… (and from the Press Release)…:

Terracotta are partnering with Cathay Pacific to celebrate the launch of their 5^th daily London Heathrow to Hong Kong flight. Accommodation is provided by the five star Design Hotels ™ member, The Mira Hong Kong.

*

To enter the competition, make and submit a short film on the theme: “Asia In London”. The film must last no more than 3 minutes in length.

*

Submissions are open from Tuesday 23 April and close at 12 noon 20 May.

*

A panel of judges including guest directors and actors attending Terracotta Festival 2013 will select the winning entry, and the winner notified by 30 May.

*

The winning entry will enjoy an Official World Premiere screening at Terracotta Festival and a prize presentation ceremony.

*

The prize consists of:

• 2 Cathay Pacific Economy class return flights from London Heathrow to Hong Kong

• 3 nights stay at a Design Hotel The Mira Hong Kong including daily breakfast for two

• Winning entry to have an Official World Premiere screening at Terracotta Festival 2013

*

The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over. Full terms and conditions apply.

*

Terracotta Festival director, Joey Leung, says: “We are excited to be working with Cathay Pacific and The Mira Hong Kong hotel and they are providing a great, and fun, incentive for people to get creative and win a trip to Hong Kong! We look forward to viewing the submissions.”

*

‘’As the home carrier for Hong Kong and gateway to Asia, we are delighted to be sponsoring this wonderful competition which we hope will inspire entrants to capture the judges’ imagination.  We are looking forward to viewing the winning video and good luck to everyone!’’ Carmen Tse, Marketing Manager, Cathay Pacific Airways.

*

“As a one-of-a-kind design hotel marked by art, music, and cutting-edge technology, we are proud to be involved in the Short Film Competition of The Terracotta Film Festival, alongside with Cathay Pacific, and we look forward to welcoming the winner of this exciting cultural project at The Mira,” shares Executive Assistant Manager, The Mira Hong Kong, Guillaume Gallas.”

*

*

IN MEMORY OF: Leslie Cheung & Anita Mui

Two prolific and well respected Hong Kong actors, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, passed away unexpectedly, and in tragic circumstances, in 2003. Ten years later, their impression on film lovers around the world is still very strong. Terracotta Festival would like to take this opportunity to present some highlights of their screen legacy.

*

About Terracotta Festival

Terracotta Far East Film Festival is an annual event aiming to widen the audience for Far Eastern film in the UK. The 4th edition ran from 12 -15 April 2012 with 5 European premieres incl. the new animated work from legendary Studio Ghibli. From comedy to drama to horror and everything in between, exclusive cast and crew Q&As, intro’s, masterclasses and parties. Terracotta Festival touring edition started in September with 5 films in the line-up.

http://www.TerracottaFestival.com

About Prince Charles Cinema

From cult festivals to the latest box office hits, the Prince Charles Cinema is the heart of independent film in London. The Prince Charles Cinema is located at 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY.  Well summed up by Quentin Tarantino: “The Prince Charles is everything an independent movie theatre should be. For lovers of quality film, this is Mecca.”

http://www.princecharlescinema.com

About the ICA

The ICA supports radical art and culture. Through a vibrant programme of exhibitions, films, events, talks and debates, the ICA challenges perceived notions and stimulates debate, experimentation, creativity and exchange with visitors. Founded in the late 1940s by a group of artists including Roland Penrose, Peter Watson and Herbert Read, the ICA continues to support living artists in showing and exploring their work, often as it emerges and before others. The inaugural ICA / LUX Biennial of Moving Images was launched in 2012, and the ICA Cinema continues to screen rare artists’ film, support independent releases and partner with leading film festivals. The ICA welcomes 400,000 visitors a year to its building on The Mall in the heart of London. The Director of the ICA is writer and curator Gregor Muir, author of Lucky Kunst.

www.ica.org.uk

About Terracotta
Committed to bringing quality and entertaining Far East films to the UK.  Releases by Terracotta Distribution include the multi-award winning Breathless directed by Yang Ik-june, Johnnie To’s Sparrow and just released Kim Ki-duk debut movie Crocodile with his documentary Arirang. Imprint label TERROR-COTTA is devoted to Asian horror and thrillers.  Terracotta Distribution launched monthly Film Club residency in January 2013 at the Prince Charles Cinema with a mission to offer the chance to enjoy Asian films regularly on the big screen.  Terracotta Far East Film Festival is an annual event aiming to widen the audience for Far Eastern film in the UK. The 4th edition ran from 12 -15 April 2012 with 5 European premieres incl. the new animated work from legendary Studio Ghibli. From comedy to drama to horror and everything in between, exclusive cast and crew Q&As, intro’s, masterclasses and parties. Terracotta Festival touring edition started in September with 5 films in the line-up.

http://www.TerracottaFestival.com

http://www.TerracottaDistribution.com

Twitter: @terracotta_dist

Facebook.com/TerracottaDistribution

In fact…

Not only is mine – and others – admiration for Terracotta and the titles released, festivals held, unique-to UK Special Edition items & indeed affordably priced goods, they also hold the odd – or not so ‘odd’ – one-off events.

Yes, it seems that the guys at Terracotta are never satisfied with having enough on their plate.  They always want more… or rather, they always want to ‘give’ more!

Terracotta seem to give so much to the Asian-cinema-hungry audience, whilst asking for very little in return.  Many feel that their marketing skills and event programming is second to none.

As an example of events, the guys at Terracotta hold a monthly, or bi-monthly ‘Secret’ Asian Movie Meet-up – which is usually in conjunction with that other reputable distributor, Third Window Films. These events often show the audience a yet-to-be-released Asian film, or one of their favourites – therefore, these occasions can be an exciting affair, with the audience being both surprised and often given an ‘exclusive’ screening. Speaking from experience, these nights – although sometimes weekend afternoons – are a lot of fun, where one can drink, chat and of course WATCH!

Again, Terracotta Distribution [along with Third Window Films] pull out all the stops and usually make this a FREE event!

But that’s enough of the TERRACOTTA STORY.

*

Finally…

“Virally Vended”

Further details of Terracotta Distribution – the company behind the Terracotta Far East Film Festival & Terracotta Touring Festival – and that other Asian film favourite, Third Window Films are below.  However, before you rush to clickety-click-away I’d like to use this space to mention the mindless riots experienced here in the UK in 2011.  Did you know that these riots caused hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages and loss to our favourite independent film distributors? These are, essentially… Arrow Films, Artifical Eye, The BFI, Crabtree Films, Cine-Asia, Dogwoof Films, Exposure Cinema, Eureka, Kaleidoscope Films, Left Films, Masters of Cinema, Metrodome Films, New Wave Films, Peccadillo Pictures, Revolver Entertainment, Showbox Home Entertainment, Terracotta, Third Window Films and Warp Films.

So, with the latter in mind it is even more important to spread the word, virally about these unfortunate vendors. On that note I leave you with these links… all which will, in some way assist in keeping such films to be distributed here in the so-called land of milk & honey.

http://www.facebook.com/thirdwindowfilms

http://www.facebook.com/TerracottaDistribution

http://www.Twitter.com/ThirdWindow

http://www.Twitter.com/TerracottaDistribution

http://www.Twitter.com/AIDED_Film

Thanks for your support… in every way.

See You Later, L’asia or That’s all, Filks*!

I’ll just leave you with this fabulous montage from 2012’s Terracotta Festival.

* Filks.  A combination of Film and Folks.