UK's Pan-Asia festival to host new films from Kitano, Ratanaruang, Shimizu

Now in its fifth year, the festival includes 12 films with UK premieres of new work by directors Takeshi Kitano [pictured], Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and Takashi Shimizu.

Opening night will hold the UK Premiere of Taiwanese box office hit Gf*Bf* by director Ya-Che Yang, a love story set against the backdrop of Taiwan’s 1980s and 1990s democracy movement.

This year’s festival will see its first ever late night screenings with Tormented 3D by The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu and cinematographer Christopher Doyle. The film follows a young mute woman as she tries to rescue her brother from a strange dream world.

Closing film Poor Folk by director Midi Z (Return to Burma) is a dark, sometimes humorous tale of familial commitment unfolding in Bangkok and Rural Thailand. Director and lead actress Ke-Xi Wu will be attending the premiere.

London venues will include the ICA, the Genesis, the Rio Cinema, Asia House and the Electric Cinema among others.

For full programme details, visit the festival’s website at www.panasiafilmfestival.org