We reveal three more competition titles! Three powerfully told stories from countries with rich film history. Three films that have already taken festivals by storm, bringing their directors the status of future masters of Asian cinema. Also announced are the members of Five Flavours' People's Jury that will judge the festival films.
A brutal, yet sweet tale about growing up in Japan, bringing to mind the early works of Hirokazu Koreeda, told in a very personal, surprisingly mature language. A purebred social drama about people fighting for their dreams at the edges of Malaysian society. A look at the native Taiwanese culture made by the first Tayal female director in history. “Amiko,” “Abang Adik,” and “Gaga” are a testimony to the talents and sensitivity of new directors and tell us a lot about the very imperfect reality that surrounds them. The three films will be shown at Five Flavours – in cinemas and online!
Amiko
Kochira Amiko, dir. Yusuke Morii, Japan 2022, 104'
Amiko is a girl who sees the world very differently from her peers. She is rather withdrawn from reality, likes to march to the beat of her own drum, and shapes the surrounding world according to her inner narration, often explaining it in magical terms. She can be both defiant and somehow naive, which makes her an outcast at school. Now her life is about to change – her mother is pregnant, and and family is facing serious challenges.
Yusuke Morii's film is not just another tender tale about a family. With his surprisingly mature debut, the Japanese director focuses not on the warm, loving hearth and home, but on the roots of systemic violence within the school system and toxic family ties.
Abang Adik
Fù dōu qīngnián, dir. Jin Ong, Malaysia 2023, 116'
Abang and Adik come from Pudu Pasar, one of the poorest districts of Kuala Lumpur. They spent their whole lives on the loud, narrow streets in the heart of the urban bustle. The younger brother, Adik, is a petty swindler. The deaf Abang is trying to break out of the precarious reality. One day, a tragic accident occurs, and as the brother's dreams begin to drift away, their relationship is put to a test.
“Abang Adik” is mostly a portrait of Kuala Lumpur – a gigantic cultural melting pot, seething with contrasts, colours and aromas. It is also a truly empathetic tale of listening and paying attention to other people. No wonder the film keeps receiving Audience Awards at international film festivals.
Gaga
dir. Leha Mebow, Taiwan 2022, 112'
For generations, the Taiwanese Tayal have been protecting their culture from disappearing from the identity map. Their traditions are set in the Gaga, a collection of rules and beliefs setting the direction of Tayal culture – its breath, rhythm, philosophy. But the modernizing world poses a serious threat to the survival of the tradition.
Through a realist portrayal of one family, Leha Mebow pays homage to the Gaga culture without sentimentalism or excessive tenderness. The film is a rare example of ethnographic cinema that also explores the emotions of its protagonists.
People's Jury of the 17th Five Flavours
For years, the best film of the Festival has been chosen by People's Jury – nine Asian cinema enthusiasts and experts who come to Warsaw from all across Europe to watch films and participate in a series of workshops for film critics, custom-made for their needs. The jurors were chosen from among over 50 excellent entries. Congratulations!
The jurors of the 17th Five Flavours are:
- Pelin Çılgın
- Kanako Fujita
- Kiki Huang
- Jakub Iglicki
- Magdalena Nieświec
- Olivia Popp
- Iga Ratajczak
- Eliana Resnick
- Jakub Wanat
17th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival passes are now available!
The 17th edition of the festival will be held in a hybrid format:
- Online, throughout Poland: November 15 – December 3, 2023
- In theaters: November 15-21, 2023, Warsaw, Kino Muranów, Kinoteka
There are two types of passes available:
- Five Flavours Cinema+Online Pass, priced at 350 PLN – grants access to all film screenings (excluding the opening ceremony) during the festival in theaters and access to all films on the festival's video platform. The program will feature at least 37 full-length films. The number of passes is limited.
- Five Flavours Online Pass, priced at 190 PLN – grants access to all films on the festival's video platform. Online, there will be at least 27 films from the festival program. The number of online passes is unlimited, and they will also be available for purchase during the festival.
Holders of the Five Flavours Cinema+Online Pass will be required to reserve seats for cinema screenings. Reservations will be made via a simple service, accessible from any computer and mobile device with access to the web.
From October 26, when the full festival programme will be announced, tickets for single screenings in cinemas and single access on the online platform will also be available for purchase.
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