ASIAN CINEMA CELEBRATION

Veteran Chinese director Zhang Yimou will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming edition of the Festival of Far East Film in Italy’s Udine (April 24 – May 2). The lineup will include three films by Zhang: his 2023 political thriller “Under the Light” in its competition section; as well as “To Live” and “Raise the Red Lantern” in its restored classics section.

The festival’s total lineup includes 74 films in total – 47 in competition and 28 out of competition) from 11 countries. Events will kick off with a double bill of smash hit mainland Chinese movie “YOLO” and Korean action comedy “Citizen of a Kind.”

Other highlights include “13 Bombs” by Indonesia’s Angga Dwimas Sasongko; “The Goldfinger” by Hong Kong’s Felix Chong; investigative journalism drama “In Broad Daylight,” by Hong Kong’s Lawrence Kan; Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor”; a ten-strong Japanese selection that includes “(Ab)normal Desire,” by Kishi Yoshiyuki, crime thriller “Gold Boy,” by Kaneko Shusuke, and kidnapping drama “Missing,” by Yoshida Keisuke.

The festival’s eleven titles from South Korea include: political thriller and smash hit “12.12: The Day”; the two parts of fantasy “Alienoid” from 2022 and 2024; “Exhuma,” an exorcism drama that is this year’s biggest box office draw and comedy actioner “The Roundup: Punishment,” with Korean American star Don Lee.

NEW NEW ZEALAND

The Whanau Marama: New Zealand International Film Festival, which already travels around the country, will add screenings in six additional regions. A selection of the festival slate will be presented in Hamilton, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Masterton and Tauranga in August and September. These are in addition to previously announced seasons, starting from July, in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, and Christchurch.