Terracotta treads Terrafirma…?!
… NOT really, NOT literally* but some NOT to be missed news nonetheless.
[*How could a type of clay, a statuette, even a colour or in this instance a whole film festival physically take on anything, let alone the very ground it… errr… stands, walks or rolls on? Well, maybe the film festival could but only if we were talking about the members of Terracotta Far East Film Festival as people, but even then…? Frankly, they do too much already.]
Whether you read the latter, lengthy paragraph or not, I think that sending each of the Terracotta Far East Film Festival team, the volunteers and all involved on a well deserved holiday is one thing, but that vacation being one in which they go on some bizarre hiking mission is another – even if hiking is indeed enjoyed in countries such as Korea, a country it supports in the films it shows. That’s plain unfair.
So why are Terracotta treading or climbing ground? Maybe it should be ‘new grounds’… who knows?! Well, you may, if you read on.
STOP! WAIT! WAIT! STOP!
[Or temporarily ‘UN’STOP PRESS!]
Why? Well, this particular article (‘particle’?) may seem very, very familiar to those who’ve read “Terracotta Treads Terrafirma Part II [Terracotta Far East Film Festival News 2015/2016]”
Why? Why… (Again)? Indeed, I’m beginning to sound a little like a child… “But Why?”, “But Why?!”
Anyway… There will be many similarities between that article and this one but the best way only MMM can distinguish the two is from the word, ‘firma’ (in terra firma).
In the ‘Part I’ article ‘firma’ could denote ‘more firm’, or indeed ‘firmer’ ground to a come for the Terracotta guys, their Far East Festival and more.
In the ‘Part II’ article ‘firma’ can stand for a new ‘firm’, as in a company.
Oops! Has the latter line, and this article’s picture given the game away already? Not quite. Read on.
OPTIONAL PARAGRAPHS – IF YOU’VE READ THE ‘PART I’ ARTICLE
Simply put, it seems they have BIG PLANS ahead and that can only mean one thing. Well, two. No… In fact, many.
Firstly, such big plans can only spell EXCITING ones.
Secondly, GROWTH… Indeed, not only have Terracotta had 7 Asian film festivals – which include the focused ‘Hong Kong 15’ fest in 2012 – as well as touring festivals too and a monthly FREE Asian meet up [in partnership with Third Window Films], they’ve been expanding into film territories of Asia and the World which were only minutely touched on in the UK previously. The latter include Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
Now… Are you ready, to read-y more? Right…
Terracotta expands into production at Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)
Yep. A little like their oft partners in crime, Third Window Films they’ve ventured into Film Production [that said, those in the know may state that they’ve kind of forayed into production previously…]
I’m personally very happy that this new expansion has occurred, not only because Terracotta deserve it so much – they’re testament to proving that passionate people in film can make it and take routes only they feel necessary – but also as it’s a kind of co-production AND with a very talented filmmaker, Gilitte Leung.
However, these are just my words, and so are only interpretations of the voices within Terracotta… But so that you too can hear it ‘from the horses mouth’, so to speak here is a Press Release from Team Terracotta and even the festival director himself, Joey Leong.
BREATHING, a filmmaking collaboration brought about by Terracotta Far East Film Festival (TFEFF) has been chosen as one of twenty-eight projects for this year’s Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), Asia’s premier project market.
Producer Richard Geddes (product manager and programmer at Terracotta Distribution) joins writer / director, Gilitte Leung in Hong Kong this week to meet with prospective partners on their upcoming film project. Richard and Gilitte first discussed working together when she came to London to present her second film, LOVE ME NOT at Terracotta Far East Film Festival in 2013.
BREATHING tells the story of a Hong Kong woman’s struggle with the pressures of modern city life and her reinvention through Muay Thai Boxing.
This is a first step into feature film production for Terracotta Distribution, after hosting seven Asian film festivals in London and releasing films from Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam via UK cinemas and home entertainment platforms.
Terracotta Distribution Founder, Joey Leung says:
“This is a natural evolution for us to move from festival and distribution into production, given our love for Asian film and our close relationships built up with Asian filmmakers. BREATHING is an exciting first project and we have had lots of enquiries and are already part funded – a very encouraging start!”
About Terracotta:
Part of the Terracotta Entertainment Group that promotes Far East films in the UK via an annual film festival, a monthly film club, exclusive screenings, home entertainment and digital channels.
Releases by Terracotta Distribution include the multi-award winning BREATHLESS directed by Yang Ik-june, Johnnie To’s SPARROW and Kim Ki-duk’s controversial drama, MOEBIUS. Imprint label, Terror Cotta is devoted to Asian horror and thrillers.
http://www.terracottadistribution.com
Terracotta Far East Film Festival (TFEFF) is the biggest event for Asian cinema in London, with an outstanding line-up of Asian movies from emerging and established artists, across a range of genres. The programme includes guest actors and directors, Q&As, a horror all-nighter, workshops and parties.
http://www.terracottafestival.com
In 2014 Terracotta Distribution launched a Classic Kung Fu Collection looking to revive forgotten martial arts movies. The first release is HERO OF SHAOLIN, directed by Cheung Kei and Dai Che and starring former Taiwan Tae Kwon Do champion Alexander Lo rei (SHAOLIN VS NINJA). Following on, THE SHANGHAI 13 is the ultimate all-star Hong Kong extravaganza, featuring Shaw Brothers veterans David Chiang and Ti Lung, superstar Andy Lau (INFERNAL AFFAIRS) and directed by the legendary Chang Cheh (FIVE DEADLY VENOMS, ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN).
About Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF):
HAF is organised by HK International Film Festival Society and takes place in Hong Kong, from 23-25 March 2015. A core event of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, it is designed to connect Asian filmmakers working on upcoming film projects, with internationaly prominent film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors, buyers and funders for co-production ventures.
About Terracotta Distribution & Third Window Films ‘Meet-Up’ events:
Footnote [& perhaps a little repetitive] Facts…
Not only is mine – and others – admiration for Terracotta Distribution and Third Window Films & 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 and Third Window are never satisfied with having enough on their plate. They always want more… or rather, they always want to ‘give’ more!
TD and TWF 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 TD and TWF hold a monthly, or bi-monthly ‘Secret’ Asian Movie Meet-up – or simply a non-Secret one, themed one, Japanese specific or, well, whatever!
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. Competitions are also common-place, and the prizes are DVDs from these two reputable distributors.
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 and Third Window Films pull out all the stops and usually make this a FREE event!
But that’s enough of the T & TF 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, the aforementioned 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
http://www.TerracottaFestival.com
http://www.TerracottaDistribution.com
(… again, often in conjunction with that other reputable distributor, Third Window Films).
Thanks for your support… in every way.
See You Later, L’asia or That’s all, Filks*!
끝
* Filks. A combination of Film and Folks.
MiNi MiNi MOViE - REViEWS, NEWS & iNTERViEWS 