UK FILM FESTIVALS

If only, if only…

MiniMiniMovie truly wishes there was more time in the world. Time for attending events such as the outstanding one posted below, or time indeed to even post about such a festival.

Often when you think there is time to do things, it clashes with something else too.

However, I really respect, admire and will hopefully visit [next year!?] these guys and their East Winds Film Festival.

Not least because the whole thing is in conjunction with one of my favourite film / DVD distributors, Third Window Films.  Incidentally, they’re probably neck & neck a favourite alongside Terracotta Distribution.

See? Not just my made-up words, but quoted in various online publications… with the following ‘blurb’:

“CUEAFS in conjunction with Third Window Films and Coventry University present East Winds Film Festival, the only major film festival of East Asian cinema outside of London and the first of its kind in the Midlands.

This four-day event aims to promote and to celebrate a broad spectrum of film, but also to showcase the films and cultures from throughout the East Asian area and bring them to the broader community of the people of Coventry.

The festival has welcomed into the United Kingdom world famous film directors and actors who have delivered lectures and introduced their films, including legendary directors Herman Yau and Miki Satoshi.”

This year it’s sandwiched between the London Film Festival [and Busan International Film Festival, for yours truly]  and the London Korean Film Festival, but that shouldn’t prevent those who can pop over to it to do so.  Go there and slate MMM’s name for NOT going, if you like!  Surely that’s deserved.

Anyway, how about a Press Release…

EAST WINDS FILM FESTIVAL 2013 (October 31st – November 3rd)

12 MAJOR AND EXCLUSIVE FILM SCREENINGS OVER FOUR DAYS, SHOWCASING POPULAR EAST ASIAN CINEMA FROM HONG KONG, CHINA, JAPAN, THAILAND AND VIETNAM.

ACTION. HORROR. COMEDY. ROMANCE. PREMIERES. SPECIAL GUESTS. EVENTS. PARTIES.

The annual East Winds Film Festival returns this autumn to Coventry University for its third year, even bigger and better than before.  Join us for the only major film festival of East Asian cinema outside of London and the first of its kind in the Midlands, UK.   A unique Film Festival delivered by students of the award-winning Coventry East Asian Film Society, in partnership with official festival sponsor Nissan.

With 4 International Premieres, 5 European Premieres and 3 UK Premieres screened over 4 days, be the first to see major blockbuster releases from East Asia at the purpose built digital cinema facility at the HUB, Coventry.

This year’s event will commence with a special ‘East Winds Chills’ strand on Halloween Night – an exclusive double bill of Horror films from Asia.

Special guests from the East Asian film industry will be flying into Coventry to introduce their films, take part in Q&A sessions, and mingle with the audience.

East Winds Film Festival is delighted to open with the European Premiere of the most anticipated movie in Vietnam and across Asia this year – the epic martial arts sci-fi fantasy ‘Once Upon A Time in Vietnam’, directed by and starring Dustin Nguyen.
A passion project for Nguyen for many years, the film offers a unique blend of swordplay, super powered martial arts and science fiction imagery, and is a landmark production in Vietnamese cinema, in terms of scale and production values. The film rights have already been sold all over the world, and the film has recently been picked up by Lionsgate for a US release later this year.

“… Once upon a time, foreign invaders came from distant lands to conquer our beloved country. Time and time again, they’re exorcized by the most elite of the monk-hood.  The elite of the elite of these were known as The Masters. When peace was restored, some of their Brothers returned to the sanctity of The Temple. But the Masters stayed behind, bound by an oath to protect the Emperor. Some say they were forced to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. But ask those who have been to battles, once your eyes have seen war, there is no returning home.”

For details on film schedule and tickets, please visit www.eastwindsfilmfest.com.

TICKETS:
STUDENT TICKETS £3.50 | GENERAL £5.00
EARLY BIRD FESTIVAL PASS ONLY £20 – offer ends September 30th
STUDENT FESTIVAL PASS £30 | GENERAL PASS £45