FAR EAST FILM 17 — Newsletter n.1, April 2015
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FEFF Campus opens up lines of communication Programme offers unique opportunities for young writers from Asia and Europe
The 17th edition of the Far East Film Festival will for the first time host a Campus for young journalists that will combine education and on-site experience with cultural exchanges between writers from Asia and Europe. Five candidates under the age of 30 have been selected from Europe and four from Asia for a programme that will include seminars, interviews and workshops focusing on both the art of film and the art of writing. You can meet these successful Campus interns on the following pages, and learn a little bit about their lives, their love of cinema and their hopes for the next nine days. Hopefully, you’ll also get the chance to meet them during the festival, as they go about their tasks and become an integral part of the FEFF community. The festival goes from strength to strength – as the presence of stars of the stature of Jackie Chan and Joe Hisaishi confirms – and its reach is spreading, too, with an important role to be played in terms of connecting with the “next generation” of film lovers. FEFF has since its inception been dedicated to forging links between the East and the West, and the Campus furthers that commitment while strengthening the ties between these regions, their film fans and their film-making communities. FEFF president Sabrina Baracetti says the Campus has been a long-term goal of the festival – a chance for both discourse and experiences to be shared between young talent keen to fuel their passion for film, and for films from Asia. “The Far East Film Festival cannot – and must not – remain identical to itself, perceiving itself exclusively as an observation post of some distant reality: all over the world, cinema is now breathing Asia”, says Baracetti. “But, at the same time, it can definitely not quit researching among new talents. It can’t surely stop looking for movies that are looking for an audience, inside genre rules or playing with genres. FEFF’s duty, then, is to understand what is going to be the cinema of the future and what destiny, if there will be one, awaits popular cinema. Even here in Europe. Without moving the target from Asia, but adding more viewing and meeting opportunities”. Campus interns will be receiving guidance from a host of experienced film industry and media professionals, while contributing to a festival newsletter to be published on the last day of FEFF. They will be embracing all aspects of the festival as well as the cultural and historic life of Udine and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. They will learn what makes the festival tick – the films, the talks, the people – while gaining an invaluable insight into how to establish themselves in the world of modern media. If you have a story to tell – or just fancy finding out more about these interns, and the Campus programme – seek them out and say hello. They are here to look, to listen, and to learn. FEFF Campus 2015 has the privilege to be supported by important European and Asian associations and organisations, including Europa Cinemas and Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC).
La 17a edizione del Far East Film Festival ospiterà la prima edizione di un Campus per giovani giornalisti, che affiancherà l’esperienza diretta alla didattica, nell’ottica di uno scambio culturale fra scrittori e professionisti dei media provenienti dall’Asia e dall’Europa. Quattro asiatici e cinque europei under 30 parteciperanno a un programma che includerà seminari, interviste, workshop e che si concentrerà sia sull’arte cinematografica che su quella della scrittura. I partecipanti uniranno alla parte didattica un lavoro vero e proprio, che si svolgerà sotto la supervisione di un gruppo di professionisti dell’industria audiovisiva e della comunicazione capitanati da Mathew Scott, assumendo un ruolo attivo in quella che è la comunità globale legata al FEFF. Impareranno cos’è che fa funzionare un Festival e come raccontarlo, come scrivere dei film, come intervistare un ospite, comprendendo quali sono le strategie per affermarsi nell’odierno mondo mediatico, facendo un’esperienza unica e in prima persona di una vera e propria redazione giornalistica, che presenterà le caratteristiche dei media tradizionali così come quelle dei social media. Il FEFF Campus 2015 gode del patrocinio di Europa Cinemas e il Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) di Hong Kong.
andrew DALEY
LUCA FEOLE
London
Who am I? I’m a media creator based in London, where I work for Time magazine as a videographer. I’m passionate about cinema, photography, and the outdoors, so you will probably find me taking a lot of photos, out with my Scout troop in the woods lighting fires, or watching films. My first experience of Asian cinema was meeting Christopher Doyle at the UK premiere of his film Underwater Love. Since then, my passion for Asian cinema has flourished. I joined the Coventry East Asian Film Society (CUEAFS) while at university, and previously visited FEFF with them. Through CUEAFS, I discovered more about the world of cinema, and my interest grew into a passion. I’ve been working with easternKicks.com for the past two years as a writer, and more recently with the Chinese Visual Festival in London planning their video coverage. This will be my fourth year at FEFF, and I’m looking forward to returning for another edition.
Asian cinema has allowed me to turn a hobby I’m passionate about into a way of meeting new friends, having new experiences, and gaining invaluable knowledge through working with directors and helping out at festivals or premieres. Asian cinema helped me get my degree, as well as my first graduate job for one of the biggest media companies in the world, and I’m very thankful for being introduced to it by my old friends in CUEAFS. It is very much a hobby, consisting of watching films or writing about them, but it’s one which is a labour of love and a constant delight.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… watch more films than I have in previous years. I’d like to have seen more films the last three times I attended FEFF. I’d like to see more of the selection, shoot a lot of photos, and film some interviews with the VIPs. I’m a photographer by nature, so I can’t wait to dive into the action.
EMIKO ISHIGAMI
Udine
Who am I? A law student at the University of Udine who loves reading and writing. My course of study has trained me to speak and write and, thanks to my insane relationship with soccer (I’m also a good striker), I’m working in the fascinating world of sports journalism as a writer for SpazioJuve.it and TremilaSport. I love communicating the amazing emotions of Serie A to my readers. I devour books and movies. Last year I worked at FEFF on the Social Media Team, a group which followed all the shows and the events. I love travelling all over the world. I am enchanted by the fascinating traditions of the orient, and one day I’ll visit Asia. Meanwhile, the chance to connect the deep passions I feel for journalism and cinema with my love for the East is an incredible opportunity. The FEFF Campus is a great way to increase my skills and get closer to my dream: a future as a journalist. So… let’s go!
I think that the Asian world hides something magical and that Asian movies bring these secrets into our lives. Asian customs, and the heritage of the region, play out on our screens. It has a different way of telling stories, and it’s unique and fantastic. I’m always curious about what I’ll see at FEFF. Favourite movies? The Raid saga, Confessions and Castaway on the Moon.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… take the readers into the magic world of FEFF, tell original stories, describe the mood of the festival, and give readers the sensation of being at the festival. The chance to interview the VIPs is great, and I want to do my best. I want to breathe in the atmosphere of my time there, explain the difference between our world and Asia’s, and grow as a journalist. FEFF and journalism is the perfect mix, and I’m ready for this adventure!
Tokyo
Who am I? I love art in general, and I have an interest in film. I watch all kinds of movies except horror and violence, even though Japanese cinema is famous for horror movies. After studying English and American literature for my BA in Japan, I moved to London to do my masters in fashion and film. After graduation, I began working as an editor/writer for a company running a Japanese film information website called Cinematoday. I’m an active and outgoing person, so I’m really glad that I am able to join the Campus!
As a Japanese, I’m proud of Asian cinema in terms of its uniqueness. It might be less unique nowadays because of globalisation. The sad trend might be that most Asian countries love to imitate Hollywood. Yet there are still some Asian films which experiment with their own cultures. That always fascinates me, as it reminds me of my background. Moreover, I’m always glad to see foreigners enjoy films from my country. My favourite Asian director is Wong Kar-wai.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… meet people from all over the world and see how differently they perceive the same things. I believe this will inspire me. Since I’m still quite new to this profession, I’d like to learn practical skills such as what makes my article/report nicer. I’m also interested in how Western people see Asian films, especially how non-Japanese people see Japanese movies. So that will be an aspect that I’ll consider during the FEFF Campus. I’d also like to learn effective ways to introduce the wonderful films of the festival to the world, because sometimes I have found it difficult to introduce foreign films (especially films from other Asian countries).
carlota ezquiaga
Born in San Sebastian, living in Madrid
Who am I? The official data about me is that my name is Carlota, I’m 20 years old and I’m from San Sebastian, a small city on the north coast of Spain. I’m in my third year of journalism and film, television and media studies at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. My bachelor’s degree sums up quite well my interests: cinema, literature, and writing, which are part of the unofficial data about me. I started my degree mostly because I wanted to be a journalist. Cinema was more of a hobby, but life is dragging me towards cinema and I couldn’t be more thankful.
The thing about cinema is that the more films you watch, the more you realise there are to watch. For me, Asian cinema is watching Spirited Away in my childhood, then Akira Kurosawa for a university course, then being both horrified and enchanted by Kim Ki-duk, and later finding the DVD of In the Mood for Love at home and watching it for the first time.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… experience the hectic and stimulating life of a festival, learn about films (therefore, learn in general), meet interesting people, watch a lot of films… and work a lot, I guess!
gloria cheung
Hong Kong
Who am I? I graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Previously, I have worked for various media organisations in Hong Kong, including CNN International, Time Out Hong Kong, Radio Television Hong Kong and the South China Morning Post. Last year, I was a production intern for Oscar-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang for her feature-length documentary My Voice My Life. Currently, I am a freelance video journalist for Voice of America in Hong Kong.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, I am used to hearing people call my city “the Hollywood of the East”, a term which dates back to when the local filmmaking industry blossomed in the 1980s and 1990s. My earliest idea of films came from watching various Stephen Chow comedies in my childhood. Those movies still hold a special place in my heart because I think they encapsulate people’s mentality, and reflect the popular culture, of the time they were made. I believe Asian cinema is an important gateway for people around the globe to understand the region, and it helps them discard common stereotypes.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… I have never been to a film festival before, so I am very excited about getting to know the dynamics of the festival, and scope out stories that would interest both European and Asian audiences. I’m really looking forward to meeting filmmakers and fellow journalists from different countries, and hearing what they think about the latest development of the Asian cinema. If all things fail, I’ll still have the beautiful architecture and the Italian cuisine to keep me company.
tara karajica
Belgrade
Who am I? I am a young film critic who contributes film reviews, interviews and festival reports to Sydneysbuzz, Indiewire, Variety, Festivalists and Altcine among many other media outlets. I also have a blog, The Film Prospector (www.thefilmprospector.com). I was a participant at the 2013 Locarno Critics Academy, the 2013 Warsaw FIPRESCI Project, and the 2014 Sarajevo Talents and I took part in the various Nisimazine film journalism workshops and initiatives organized by NISI MASA. I am a member of Criticwire, the International Cinephile Society, and the Women Film Critics Circle and the recipient of the 2014 Best Critic Award at the altcineAction! Film Festival.
For as long as I can remember I have been a cinephile, an avid consumer of the products of the film industry. Five years ago, I discovered there was an abyss between watching films and writing about them. I crossed that chasm by pure chance and discovered a whole new world. Within it there are other small and exciting worlds that I haven’t yet had the chance to fully explore, and Asian cinema is one of them. The FEFF Campus will most certainly be the opportunity to start doing so.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… apart from meeting new people from all over the world and from diverse fields of cinema, I would like to hone my craft, and advance my theoretical knowledge of Asian cinema. I want to learn how to meet the challenges of the film festival circuit, the professional setting in which I wish to evolve. I would also like to explore the fascinating and unusual relationship between Italy and Asian cinema, and understand how, each year, Udine becomes the cinematic capital of Asia during nine days.
sonia KIL
samantha-josephine KIESEL
Busan
Who am I? An aspiring film journalist born, raised and based in South Korea. Out of pure affection towards Asian independent cinema, I have worked for the Busan International Film Festival, and then for Asian Film Commissions Network/Busan Film Commission. My first writing job was for international film trade magazine Variety. As I have spent almost half my life in the city that boasts Asia’s largest annual film festival, I have watched and been influenced by diverse films from the era’s most important Asian indie directors, and seen how their unique film language and artistry is woven into uniquely “Asian” stories.
My work experience at the Busan Film Commission, where I was in charge of writing Asian film industry news and reviews for local quarterly Film Busan, inspired me to become a film journalist. As a junior journalist who has just started my writing career, I feel that experience is what matters the most, and not just a formal degree.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… have hands-on experiences of what it is like to cover and write stories during a bustling cross-cultural festival. In 2013, I organised a twoweek long international film co-production workshop that involved young filmmakers from 14 Asian countries, and came to believe in the power of cultural exchange that can leave a huge impact on the participants’ journey afterwards. During the FEFF Campus, I will try to learn as much as I can, not only from the mentors but also from fellow young journalists. As a journalist, I hope to assist Asian films achieve international attention and to be a part of an industry that prides itself not only on commercially successful films, but also on globally recognised artistic works.
he XIN
Hamburg
Who am I? I went to a movie theatre for the first time at the age of four – I saw The Lion King by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. I was totally impressed by the movie, and since that time I’ve been determined to practice a profession that is related to cinema. I did an internship at the Bunkverlag, a small publishing company issuing three different cultural magazines per month, and that gave me the opportunity to write news and reviews for the film and entertainment section. I graduated from the Macromedia University of Applied Sciences a year ago with a Bachelor’s degree in cultural journalism. As a result of my great interest in the film and theatre industries, I wrote my bachelor thesis about the demise of cinema.
I have not yet seen a lot of Asian movies. But I especially liked Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Porco Rosso by Hayao Miyazaki, as well as In the Mood for Love, My Blueberry Nights and The Grandmaster by Wong Kar-wai. I am very grateful to be part of the 17th edition of FEFF, and I hope to better my acquaintance with Asian cinema.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to… gain practical and invaluable insights into the processes of an international film festival as well as the modern media scene. I would also like to learn more about the culture and history of Udine, because I believe that the region makes a significant contribution to the success of the festival, and makes it unique. It would be nice if I could make some new contacts which may lead to close friendships that can be sustained beyond the festival, and I also hope that our time in Udine will be a wonderful experience.
Beijing
Who am I? I graduated from the Communication University of China and majored in directing. Now I am a film journalist at Sina.com, which is the first and biggest news portal website in China. I have covered the Cannes, Berlin, Tokyo, Busan, Shanghai and Beijing film festivals. These experiences made me begin to fall in love with film festivals, and sparked a desire to learn how they are put together. That’s why I’m looking forward to the FEFF Campus so much. In my spare time I write film criticism, and have been published in about 20 domestic magazines and newspapers. I’m also a film lover, as you can see, so I hope to make more friends with film fans.
I live in a country where the film market is undergoing great changes. Last year, China’s total box office was about 30 billion yuan (or more than 4.5 billion euros). That’s 15 times what it was 10 years ago, making China the second biggest film market in the world. As a film journalist, I face new circumstances every day. This makes me excited, but I always feel there are too many new things to learn, too.
What does Asian cinema mean to me?
learn how an international film festival is put together. Who organises all the events, and how do these events finally come into being? How do you collect so many brilliant movies from around the world, and what does a film festival mean to filmmakers? Also, because FEFF is a European film festival introducing Asian films, I’d like to learn more about the responses Asian films get in Europe. I can’t wait to be there!
During the FEFF Campus, I hope to...
The FEFF Campus is an initiative devised by the 17th Far East Film Festival, supported by Europa Cinemas, Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) and Udine’s Camera di Commercio and co-ordinated by Mathew Scott, Tom Kelland, Richard James Havis, Marco Villotta and Chiara Giorgiutti.