The 75th Venice International Film Festival has finally announced the line-up in a press conference in Rome, hosted by the President of the Biennale di Venezia Paolo Baratta and by the Director of the Cinema department Alberto Barbera.
The Venice International Film Festival has been welcoming in the past many Asian movies especially under the previous Director Marco Muller (2004-2011), a dedicated advocate and promoter of Asian Cinema, but this year the Asian presence is particularly poor. A bit surprising after the success in Cannes of Palme d'Or director Hirokazu Kore'eda with “Shoplifters” and Lee Chang-dong with “Burning”.
Only one film – Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto's new movie “Zan” – is in the Official Competition and few more “usual suspects” are scattered in the other sections. Chinese director Tsai Ming-Liang – a regular of the festival – is in the Out of Competition Section with his “Ni De Lian“, where other big Chinese name Zhang Yimou has his “Shadow”. Another beloved-in-Venice, writer-director Pema Tseden will present his latest work “Jinpa“ in the Orizzonti Section.
Few more to be found in the restored prints of the oldies in the Venice Classics section and in the new Venice Virtual Reality section now at its second year running.
Notably, one of the members of this year's Jury is the wonderful Sylvia Chang, an accomplished and well-established personality of the Asian and international film industry.
But let's have a proper look at all the Asian Movies in the line-up of this 75th edition of the Venice International Film Festival, running from the 29th of August to the 8th of September at Lido di Venezia.
COMPETITION – An International Competition comprising a maximum of 20 feature-length films, presented as World Premieres.
“Zan” (Killing) – Director: Shinya Tsukamoto – Main Cast: Sousuke Ikematsu, Yu Aoi, Tatsuya Nakamura, Shinya Tsukamoto, Ryusei Maeda / Japan / 80'
OUT OF COMPETITION – Works of established authors, documentaries and films in which the spectacular dimension is accompanied by forms of expressive originality.
“Ying“ (Shadow) – Director: Zhang Yimou – Main Cast: Deng Chao, Sun Li, Zheng Kai, Wang Qianyuan, Wang Jingchun, Hu Jun, Guan Xiaotong, Wu Leo / China / 116'
“Ni De Lian“ (Your Face) – Director: Tsai Ming-Liang – Main Cast: Lee Kang Sheng / Chinese Taipei / 76'
ORIZZONTI – An International Competition dedicated to films that represent the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in international cinema.
“Kraben Rahu“ (Manta Ray) – Director: Phuttiphong Aroonpheng – Main Cast: Wanlop Rungkamjad, Aphisit Hama, Rasmee Wayrana / Thailand, France, China / 105'
“Soni” – Director: Ivan Ayr – Main Cast: Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Saloni Batra / India / 97'
“Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku“ (Memories Of My Body) – Director: Garin Nugroho – Main Cast: Muhammad Khan, Raditya Evandra, Rianto, Randy Pangalila, Whani Darmawan / Indonesia / 105'
“Jinpa“ – Director: Pema Tseden – Main Cast: Jinpa, Genden Phuntsok, Sonam Wangmo / China / 86'
VENICE CLASSICS – A selection of the finest recent restorations of classic films, and documentaries about cinema or individual authors of yesteryear or today.
“Akasen Chitai“ (Street Of Shame) – Director: Kenji Mizoguchi – Main Cast: Machiko Kyô, Aiko Mimasu, Ayako Wakao / Japan / 1956 / 86'
“Koi Ya Koi Nasuna Koi“ (Love, Thy Name Be Sorrow Aka The Mad Fox) – Director: Tomu Uchida – Main Cast: Hashizô Ôkawa, Michiko Saga, Ryûnosuke Tsukigata / Japan / 1962 / 109'
VENICE VIRTUAL REALITY – A maximum of 30 World-Premieres or International Premieres of VR immersive stories of any length and of any VR format.
“Buddy Vr“ – Director: Chuck Chae – Main Cast: Yena Jang / South Korea / 16'
“Shennong: Taste Of Illusion“ – Director: Li Mi, Zheng Wang – China / 9'
“Wu Zhu Zhi Cheng Vr” (The Last One Standing Vr) – Director: Jiwen Wang, Yang Liu – China / 10'
“Fresh Out“ – Director: Sam Wey, Fangchao Tao – China, Usa / 7'
OUT OF COMPETITION – BEST OF VR – LINEAR
“Ghost In The Shell: Virtual Reality Diver“ – Director: Higashi Hiroaki – Main Cast: Elizabeth Maxwell, Christopher Sabat, Jad Saxton / Japan / 16'
“Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari Vr” (Tales Of Wedding Rings Vr) – Director: Sou Kaei – Main Cast: Akari Kito, Takumi Satou, Kouichi Souma / Japan / 30'
You can check the complete line-up here
