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The Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine came to an end on Friday, May 2, closing the 27th chapter in its ongoing celebration of Asian cinema. Feff has always been a festival that knows how to please its fanbase, and this year was no exception. Ranging from popular blockbusters to auteur-driven works, from crowd-pleasing comedies to emotional tearjerkers, and including tributes to cinematic heritage – such as the retrospective and publication Yokai and Other Monsters: From Asian Folklore to Cinema – the program offered a rich portrait of contemporary Asia. Audiences were especially thrilled by the presence of major stars in the theatre, including Sylvia Chang and Tsui Hark – both honored with the Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement – and Japanese actor Lily Franky, who presented the Filipino film “Diamonds in the Sand” alongside its director, Janus Victoria.

The Taiwanese presence was notably strong this year, both in terms of films and guests.

Director Kim Han-Gyul returns after her 2019 feature film “Crazy Romance”, which also screened at Udine. Her new work, “Pilot”, may initially appear to be another romantic comedy, but in reality, it leans more heavily on comedy than romance and includes some unexpected surprises. “Pilot” is a remake of the 2012 Swedish film “Cockpit”, and it has been a mild box office success in South Korea.

Pilot is screening at Far East Film Festival

The titular pilot is Han Jung-woo (Jo Jung-suk), a sort of celebrity within the aviation community and a star pilot for Hankuk Air, one of South Korea’s top airline companies. A rising star in his early 30s, he has recently been promoted from co-pilot to captain. Regarded as the airline’s golden boy, he appears in their advertisements and represents the company in television interviews, treated more like a public figure than an employee. At home, he...

As every year, with the usual online announcement, the Festival’s director Sabrina Baracetti, has launched the 22nd edition’s Programme of the Udine Far East Film Festival 2020. This year, Sabrina talks from her office instead of the beautiful Teatro Nuovo of Udine, in a Zoom call, but the enthusiasm is as strong as ever.

After the incredible success of the lockdown teaser Programme called “Io Resto a Casa” (I Stay at Home) the Festival will continue the partnership with the online streaming platform MyMovies.it, From the 8yh of June the accreditations will be available on the Official Website

Festival Director Sabrina Baracetti

But, let’s have a look at the titles. Here are some interesting numbers: 46 Films, of which 38 in competition (the audience will be able to vote), 8 Countries, 12 Firs-time directors, and 25% of directors are women.

All The Films At A Glance. Online Festival Line-up 2020 And Territorial Restrictions...

The festival will play 46 features from eight Asian countries.

Udine’s Far East Film Festival (Feff) has revealed a lineup of 46 features including four world premieres, for the online-only edition of the event that will run from June 26 until July 4.

It will open with the international premiere of Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo’s disaster action film Ashfall, available to viewers in Europe only.

The film was a blockbuster hit in South Korea over Christmas, grossing almost $60m (£47.9m) by the end of January.

The world premieres are Ning Yuanyuan’s Chinese title An Insignificant Affair; Daigo Matsui’s Japanese...