A new film festival is now celebrating its premiere in Vienna: From May 12th to 15th, the Red Lotus – Asian Film Festival Vienna will take place for the first time in the Stadtkino Vienna. The four-day event for all lovers of Asian film and those who want to become one brings popular cinema from Asia to the federal capital. The spectrum ranges from brilliant action films to comedies from Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, India, Bangladesh, Iran and the Philippines.
The aim of the new film festival is to offer cinema-goers in Vienna the opportunity to immerse themselves in Asian filmmaking to their heart’s content. According to the organizers, this explicitly means the cinema “that is also seen by many people in the countries where the films come from and is not ‘just’ created for western festivals or the art house niches”. but also “a hub for communication with and between the numerous Asian communities in Vienna and beyond that are clearly underserved in terms of film”. This is ensured, among other things, by the close cooperation with the embassies of the respective countries. After the film screenings, audience discussions are intended to enable encounters with film guests. With a glamorous gala at the opening – with the very entertaining film “Sexual Drive” from Japan – Red Lotus heralds four varied festival days on May 12th. Almost all films are Austrian premieres In its first year the festival presents a total of twelve current Asian films – each two from Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea and one each from India, Bangladesh, Iran and the Philippines.Twelve of the 13 films shown are Austrian premieres, all films are shown in their original versions with English subtitles.Lifetime Achievement Award for cult actor Chow Yun-FatAs a special highlight, Chow Yun-Fat, one of the most popular actors in Hong Kong and Asian cinema for decades, will be presented with the first Lifetime Achievement Award at the Red Lotus – Asian Film Festival Vienna in his honor will be a spectacular action classic from the late 1980s years ago in a beautiful 35mm copy. All further information and online ticket purchase can be found at red-lotus.org
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