du 10 au 17 février 2015

21ème Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie de Vesoul

Dossier de presse

Festival Director: Martine TherouanneGeneral Manager: Jean-Marc Therouanne

Press Attaché: Bastian Meiresonne

21st FICA - Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

(Festival International des Cinémas d’Asie de Vesoul)

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FICAVesoul’s International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas

The Vesoul Film Festival's purpose is to reveal & promote cinema of Asian territories, enhance dialog and discover other cultures through the art of cinema.The Festival would also like to promote its host city Vesoul, the department of Haute-Saône and the region of Franche-Comté.

21st Vesoul’s International Film Festival of Asian Cinemas

(10th-17th February 2015)Honouring China, Iran and Lao Cinema

Created in 1995, FICA is the oldest European Asian Film Festival and the sole European Film Festival tofocus on entire Asian Continent from the Suez Canal to the Pacific Ocean, from the Indian Ocean to the Arctic Ocean.

The more than 30.000 audience members in the last two years put the Festival on top position of all other existing European Asian Film Festivals.

During its 21st anniversary edition from February 11-18, the Festival proposes a total of 90 rarely-seenand/ or never-been-released before movies in order to (re)discover Asia’s important cultural heritage.

Our Festival’s program has been divided into following sections:

* Contemporary Asian Cinema:Competition of unreleased feature films in France Competition of unreleased documentaries in France

* Main theme: Breathless* Focus on Chinese Cinema: 1950 – 2014* Focus on the Independent Iranian Cinema* Asian French-speaking Territories: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam* Japanimation* Young Audience

Contacts:FICA - Festival International des Cinémas d'Asie25 rue du docteur Doillon – 70 000 VESOUL - FRANCETel : +33 (0)3 84 76 55 82 - Fax : +33 (0)3 84 96 01 43 -

Mail: festival.vesoul@wanadoo.fr - Website: www.cinemas-asie.comPress: Jean-Marc Thérouanne : +33 (0)6 84 84 87 46

Bastian Meiresonne : +33 (0)6 12 94 12 73

1- 2015 Program:11- Official Competition of feature and documentary films, unreleased in France 12- Main topic: Breathless 13- Focus on Chinese Cinema: 1959 – 201414- Focus on Independent Iranian Cinema 15- Asian French-speaking Territories: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam 16- Japanime17- Children Audience

2- Jury & Prizes:21- International Jury22- Netpac Jury 23- Guimet Museum Jury 24- INALCO Jury 25- Press Jury26- Youth Jury 27- High School Jury28- Audience Award

3- Guests

4- Events40- Opening ceremony: Tribute to Wu Tianming (1939-2014)

Honorary Award for Wang Chao41- Open Debate: «The many faces of Asian Cinema»42- Iran Night43- China Night44- Professional Journey: Produce & Direct a movie in China, Iran & Laos45- Cultural Diversity Night: Laos46- Cinephiles Lunch: Sunday, February 15th 201547- 25 Years of NetPac 48- Closing & Award Ceremony49- Reprisal of awarded movies in Paris

5- Around Festival:51- Vesoul meets Asia52- Exhibits53- Festival goes Haute-Saône54- Awareness Campaign

6- Practical information:61- Theatre venues62- Open Lounge / Restaurant: La Bambouseraie63- Press Office: Georges Revillot64- Catalogue65- Festival Daily Newsletter66- Admission67- Tickets

7- Festival website

8- Contact

1- 2015 Program:11- Official feature films & documentaries competition: 17 unreleased movies in France.

The features in official competition have to reflect actual worldwide currents.None of those selected movies have ever been shown in France before and are either European or International Premieres.This year's head of the official competition jury, Chinese director Wang Chao (Fantasia, Memory ofLove, Luxury Car, Day & Night, The Orphan of Anyang), is considered one of China’s most talented directorsof Sixth Generation. He was Chen Kaige’s assistant director on Farewell My Concubine (Golden Palm, Cannes Film Festival 1993) and The Emperor and the Assassin.He has been several times selected in Cannes Film Festival’s Official Competition and won the Prix Un Certain Regard in 2006 for his Luxury Car.He will introduce his latest long feature, Fantasia, (Un Certain Regard selection at Cannes Film Festival 2014), which will open in French theatres in June 2015.The Vesoul Film Festival will grant him a Golden Honorary Cyclo Award during opening ceremony forhis career. It is also thought as a symbolic gesture for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and France.

111- Official long feature competition:The FICA Vesoul selection committee watched over 500 movies to choose only 9 long-features forfinal selection. One might imagine the programmers' hard task to take the right decisions to discover orconfirm a new talent. This also meant many encounters, new contacts, hours of screening, many written notes and travels to bring you the finest selection to satisfy both our jury members and our audiences.

China: One Summer by Yang Yishu – European PremiereSouth Korea: A Matter of Interpretation by Lee Kwang-kuk – French PremiereIndia: Margarita with a Straw by Shonali Bose – French PremiereIran: Melbourne by Nima Javidi – French PremiereKazakhstan: Adventure by Nariman Turebayev – French PremiereKirghizstan: Kurai, Kurai: Tales on the Wind by Marjolaine Boonstra – International PremiereMyanmar: The Monk by The Maw NaingPhilippines: Bwaya by Francis Xavier Pasion – European PremiereTaiwan: Exit by Chienn Hsiang – French Premiere

112- Official documentaries competition:

For this selection, our Festival programmers try to imagine some sort of dialog between East & West. That'spart of the reason why some of our choices imply documentaries done by Westerners about Asia or by Asiandirectors living in Occident.Topics are far-stretching and deal about human trafficking, chemical or radioactive pollution, ma-triarchy, violence against women, delinquency and reinsertion, social phobia, school refusal and immigrate workers.Those movies invite the audiences to a very special journey. Those are snapshots from different parts of theworld at one given moment. They are thought to incite audience members both to reflect on their own situation and to use them as references in this ever-changing world.

Cambodia: Storm Makers by Guillaume Suon – UnreleasedChina: Endless Road by Jin Huaqing – International PremiereChina / Italy: Nu Guo – In the Name of the mother by Francesca Rosati Freeman and Pio d’Emilia – UnreleasedIndia / France: Are Vah! by Micha Patault & Sarah Irion - UnreleasedIran: Iranian Ninja by Marjan Riahi – French PremiereJapan / France: Kijima Stories by Laetitia Mikles - UnreleasedJapan / France: Hikikomori by Dorothé Lorang & David Beautru - UnreleasedNepal: Oh Han River by Ashok Thapa Magar – World Premiere

Out of competition:Being 20 by the scholars of Lumière High School in Luxeuil-les-Bains(France)

12- « Breathless »

This year’s topic Breathless symbolizes the new breath we put into Fica Vesoul’s third decade. We’ll take thepulse of all Asian territories from the Near to the Far East: from Turkey to Japan, from Israel to South Korea, passing through Iran, India, China, Hong Kong and Thailand.Our section focuses on movies with strong topics, not only martial arts, gangster or spy movies, but also thril-lers, or suspense fictions with strong social and / or political contents.

Vesoul will once again represent Asia’s pulsing heartbeat, in the midst of current world’s modernity.

China: Black Coal by Diao YinanBlind Shaft by Li YangMistery by Lou YeSuzhou River by Lou YeTrap Street by Vivian Qu

South Korea: A Cappella by Lee Sun-jin A Girl At My Door by July JungSuneung by Shin Su-won

Hong Kong: Eye in the Sky by Yau Nai NohInfernal Affairs 1 by Andrew LauSparrow by Johnnie ToLife Without Principle by Johnnie to

India: Before Dawn by Balaji K. KumarIran: Goodbye by Mohammad Rasoulof

A Respected Family by Massoud BakshiManuscripts Don’t Burn by Mohammad Rasoulof

Israel: Ajami by Scandar Copti & Yaren ShaniBethlehem by Yuval Adler

Japan: Stray Dog by Akira KurosawaHigh and Low by Akira Kurosawa

Postman Blues by SabuThailand: Dorm by Songyos SugmakananTurkey: I am not Him by Tayfun Pirselimoglu

An Occidental Point of View on Asia:France: Rififi in Tokyo by Jacques Deray

13- Focus on Chinese Cinema (1959-2014)This section includes 36 of the most important Chinese movies made between the proclamation of thePeople's Republic of China and nowadays. It is France’s most important Chinese Movies retrospectiveorganized at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between thePeople's Republic of China and France. It will mark the end of the French-Chinese Cultural Season.The selected features are not the social-realistic movies wanted by the Maoist ideology, but social-critic fictions, which escaped censorship. Three of the selected movies have been shot before the Cultural Revolution. Before that period (1966-1976),only few movies had been made and even fewer weren’t propaganda movies. After that specific period, condi-tions became better. Following the talented fourth generation, the fifth generation of movie makers startedgathering important awards in many International Film Festivals, including one Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival in 1992. At the brink of 21st century, the sixth generation described urbanized China facing brutal socio-culturalchanges. Those independent filmmakers are generally supported by foreign investors which help them express their talent.

1959: The Lin Family Shop by Shui Hua - Unreleased1964: A Rooster crows at Midnight by Yeou Lei – Unreleased 1964: Early Spring in February by Xie Tieli – Unreleased1982: The Rickshaw Boy by Lin Zifeng – Unreleased1982: As You Wish by Huang Jianzhong – Unreleased1984: A Night of Ice by Que Wen – Unreleased1990: Judou by Zhang Yimou1992: The Story of Qiu Jiu by Zhang Yimou1992: For Fun by Ning Ying1997: The Opium War by Xie Jin – Unreleased 1997: Xiao Wu by Jia Zhang-Ke 1998: So Close to Paradise by Wang Xiao-Shuai1999: The Emperor and the Assassin by Chen Kaige 2000: Happy Times by Zhang Yimou2000: Suzhou River by Lou Ye2003: Infernal Affairs 1 by Andrew Lau2003: Blind Shaft by Li Yang2006: Little Red Flowers by Zhang Yuan2006: The First of August by Song Yeming2007: Eye in the Sky by Yau Nai Noh2007: The Sun Also Rises by Jiang Weng2007: Little Moth by Tao Peng2008: Sparrow by Johnnie To2009: Memory of Love by Wang Chao 2010: The Ditch by Wang Bing2011: Life without Principle by Johnnie To2012: Full Circle by Zhang Yang2013: The Nightingale by Eduardo Roy Jr 2013: Song of the Phoenix by Wu Tiangming – European Premiere2014: Endless Road by Jin Huaqing – International Premiere2014: Nu Guo – In the Name of the Mother by Francesca Rosati Freeman & Pio d’Emilia2014: Trap Street by Vivan Qu2014: Black Coal by Diao Yinan2014: Fantasia by Mez de Guzman – European Premiere2014: One Summer by Yang Yishu

14- Focus on Iranian Independent Cinema

Founded in 1997 by Mohammad Atebbai, Iranian Independents is involved in production, promotionand marketing of Iranian independent feature and documentary films. This company has already been invol-ved in international co-financing and co-production of Rakhshan Bani-Etemad’s The May Lady (1998), JafarPanahi’s The Circle (2000), Ali Reza Raissian’s Deserted Station (2002). Mohammad Atebbai has been activein different fields in Iranian film industry for the past 25 years as international promoter of Iranian cinema, sales agent, producer, writer, researcher and journalist. Iranian Independents has handled promotion and marketing of 100 prestigious Iranian features as well as100 documentary films in past 15 years. They have provided local services to some international projects in Iran as well.

2010: Please Don’t Disturb by Mohsen Abdolvahab – French Premiere2010: Rainy Seasons by Majid Barzegar - Unreleased2012: The Last Step by Ai Mosaffa – Unreleased2013: The Wedlock by Rouhollah Hejazi – French Premiere2014: The Sale by Hossein Shahabi – International Premiere2014: I Am Not Angry by Reza Dormishian – French Premiere

15- Asian French Speaking Territories: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam

Our Asian French-speaking countries section is divided into 3 parts this year. The first and most importantone perpetuates our desire to reveal unknown cinemas with the very first focus on Lao cinema ever heldworldwide, including two classics from the 1980s (one having never been released anywhere since its nationalrelease in 1983) and three more recent productions which are proofs of the very beginnings of a possible re-newal. We did the same in 2011 with Cambodian cinema, which, in the meanwhile, affirmed its emergence,as our small film selection proves it, revisiting the country’s sad historical past through different Art currents. Finally, Lam Le’s film is a wink at our focus on Vietnamese cinema held last year.

Laos:1983: The Sound of Gunfire in the Plain of Jars by Somchit Phonsena et Pham Ky Nam – InternationalPremiere1988: The Red Lotus by Som Ock Southiponh – European Premiere2008: Good Morning Luang Prabang by Sakchai Deenan & Anousone Sirisackda – European Premiere2011: At Horizon by Anysay Keola- European Premiere2012: Chanthaly by Mattie Do – French Premiere

Cambodia:2011: The Golden Slumber by Davy Chou2014: Cambodia 2099 by Davy Chou - Unreleased2014: Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock’N’Roll byJohn Pirozzi – European Premiere

Vietnam :2013: Cong Binh - The Lost Fighters of Vietnam by Lam Lê

16- Every year, FICA is closely following the extraordinary creativity of Asian animation studios; that's whywe introduce once more our JAPANIME NIGHTS.

Japan: Giovanni’s Island by Nishikubo Mizuho Japan: Patema Inverted by Yoshiura Yasuhiro

17- Cinema is for all audiences, that's why the Family Afternoon sessions are not only for Children Audience, but for all audiences between 3 and 103 years!

China: The Nightingale by Philippe MuylIran : Tales from Mother Chicken by Farkhondeh Torabi, Morteza AhadiSarkani, Vajiollah, Fard MoghadamJapan: Komaneko, the Curious Cat by Goda Tsuneo

Gauche, the Cellist by Isao Takahata

2- Jurys and prizes:

Several juries: International, NETPAC, Press, Guimet Museum, INALCO, Young Adults & High School Jurywill all give at least one award.

21- International Jury:

The head president of this year's official competition jury is Wang Chao, director (China)Other members: Laurice Guillen, actress, director & Festival president (Philippines)Mohammad Rasoulof, director (Iran), Prasanna Vithanage, director (Sri Lanka)

They will reward different movies with the Golden Cyclo, the Grand Jury Prize & the Special Jury Mention.

22- NETPAC Jury (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) :

President: Raman Chawla, Programmer (India)Other members: Yelena Larionova, Programmer & producer (Kazakhstan)

Jin Huaqing, Documentary Filmmaker (China)

They will decide upon the NETPAC Award.

23- The National Guimet Museum of Asian Arts of Paris Jury:

Hubert Laot, Artistic director of Guimet, Véronique Prost, programmer, Anna-Nicole Hunt, commu-nication will reward Best Fiction Feature the Emile Guimet Award donated by The Friends of the National Guimet Museum of Asian Arts of Paris and a Special Mention Award.

24- INALCO Jury:

Jury composed by teachers and students of the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations:Lucille Cosgrave, Cedric Fuentes, François-Xavier Durandy, Khamphanh Pravong, Eléonore Antoine Snow-den, Emmanuel Véron.

25- Press Jury: Gönul Donmez-Colin, critic at Monde Diplomatique and Cumhuriyet (Turkey), Pascal Binetruy, criticat Positif, Marie-Pauline Mollaret, critic at Ecran Noir.

26- Youth Jury: Pauline Mariet and Garance Chatelain, 9th Grade scholars at Vesoul’s Jean Macé High School are thepresidents of Youth Jury. The jury will be composed by more than 30 young scholars and students from Haute-Saône.

27- High School Jury:Jury created in 2007 within the project: “Edouard Belin High School: from FICA to Cannes Film Festival”.Jury composed by Visual Art student Pierre Convers and other high scholars from Lycée Edouard Belin.

28- Audience AwardThe Audience Award of Best Long Fiction Feature, sponsored by Vesoul City & the Audience Awardof Best Documentary, sponsored by Vesoul Agglomeration will both be rewarded during closing ceremony on Tuesday, February 17th 2015 at 08.30 pm at Vesoul’s Edwige Feuillère Theater.

3- Festival Guests:

Martine Armand, Indian Cinema specialist, Mohammad Atebbai, Iranian producer, MarjolaineBoonstra, Dutch filmmaker, Shova Chand, Nepalese Cinema specialist, Reza Dormishian, Iranian di-rector, Feng Yizhi, Chinese actress, Francesca Rosati Freeman, director, Nima Javidi, Iranian director,Jin Huaqing, Chinese director, Lam Lê, director, Lee Kwang-kuk, Korean director, Fanfan Li, Chinesepainter, Nilesh Maniyar, Indian director & producer, The Maw Naing, Burmese director, Bastian Mei-resonne, Asian Cinema specialist, Philippe Muyl, director, Shahla Nahid, Iranian Cinema specialist,Francis Xavier Pasion, Filipino director, Micha Patault, director, Luisa Prudentino, Chinese FilmSpecialist, Jocelyne Saab, Lebanese director, Guillaume Suon, director, Guillaume de Seille, producer,Anousone Sirisackda, Lao director, Bich-Quan Tran, distributor, Nariman Turebayev, Kazakh di-rector, Wang Chao, Chinese director, Yang Yishu, Chinese director

4- Events

40- 21st Opening Ceremony, Tuesday, 10th of February 2015 at 8.00 pm, Théâtre Edwige FeuillèreAn Honorary Golden Cyclo will be granted to Chinese director Wang Chao for his career.Screening of Full Circle by Zhang Yang as a tribute to Wu Tianming.Cocktail Party at 11.00 pm in Hall Parisot.

41- Open Debate: “The Many Faces of Asian Cinema”: Thursday, February 12th 2015at 11.00 am In Press Room Georges Révillot, Majestic Cinema in collaboration with Radio RCF (live radio

broadcast show)

42- Iran Night: Thursday, February 12th, 2015

43- China Night: Friday, February 13th, 2015Starting from 10.30 pm, audiences and professionals are all invited to attend a Cocktail Party at La Bam-bouseraie, to celebrate China’s movie industry together with many Chinese professionals

44-Professional Meeting, Saturday, February 14th, 2015:

02.00 pm: Round table: "How to produce and direct a movie in nowadays China & Iran & Laos"with Reza Dormishian, Iranian director, Feng Yizhi, Chinese actress, Francesca Rosati Freeman,director, Nima Javidi, Iranian director, Jin Huaqing, Chinese director, Philippe Muyl, director, ShahlaNahid, Iranian Cinema specialist, Luisa Prudentino, Chinese Film Specialist, Jocelyne Saab, Lebanesedirector, Guillaume Suon, director, Guillaume de Seille, producer, Anousone Sirisackda, Lao direc-tor, Bich-Quan Tran, distributor, Wang Chao, Chinese director, Yang Yishu, Chinese director and Bas-tian Meiresonne.

45- Laos Night: Saturday, February 14th 2015Cocktail Party as a tribute for Laos, French-speaking Asian country in focus.

46- Cinephile Lunch: Sunday February 15th 2015A lunch open for all audiences and Asian Movies Lovers.At 12.00 pm at La Bambouseraie.

47- NETPAC’s (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) 25th Anniversary Party:Sunday, February 15th 2015, 10.30 pm, La Bambouseraie

48- Closing & Award Ceremony: Tuesday, February 17th 2015 08.30: Closing & Award Ceremony at Edwige Feuillère TheaterScreening of Wang Chao’s (head of the International Jury) Memory of Love.

11.00 pm: Cocktail Party in Parisot Hall.

49- Reprisal of Award winners in Paris screenings:- In The National Guimet Museum of Asian Arts Auditorium from March 18th-20th 2015- At National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations’s Auditorium in 2015.

5- Around Festival:

51- Vesoul City meets AsiaVesoul city gets Asian decorations starting from January 20th.

52- Exhibits

* Chapelle de la Mairie, from 01/16-03/01, Chinese painter Fanfan Li exposes her works.Scholars from Visual Arts Department at Edouard Belin’s High School will meet the artist.

* Hall de Cora, 02/02-21: Movie poster exhibit

* Cinéma Majestic-Espace des Lumières: Posters of all selected movies

53- FICA on tour in Haute-Saône:

Between 02/05-11, several Festival movies will be shown preceding the festival in whole department: Gray,Dampierre-sur-Salon, Lure and Luxueil-les-Bains.

Screenings for all audiences:

February 8th, 05.00 pm at Espace Meliès, Lure: Giovanni’s Island by Nishibuko MizuhoFebruary 16th, 03.00 pm at Espace Molière, Luxueil-les-Bains: The Nightingale by Philippe Muyl.

54- Educational meetingsIn collaboration with AAMI de Gray, Lure, Luxeuil-les-Bains, Saint-Loup-sur-Semouse and Vesoul, Vesoul’sEspace Villon and different associations, FICA Vesoul organizes a series of screenings and debates for Prio-rity Neighbourhood.FICA Vesoul collaborates with several schools from Vesoul and surroundings with workshops, meetings, dis-cussions, debates during Film Festival.

6- Practical info:

61- Theatres:

Théâtre Edwige Feuillère de Vesoul (Place Pierre Renet):

Opening ceremony, Tuesday, 10th of February 2015 at 08.00 pm &Closing Ceremony, Tuesday 17th of February 2015 at 08.30 pm

Cinéma Majestic-Espace des Lumières (Parc des Haberges):

Wednesday, 11th – Tuesday, 17th of February 2015,Non-stop screenings from 9.00 am - midnightCinéma Majestic Espace des Lumières (theaters 2, 3, 4, 5 & 10).

62- Restaurant: La Bambouseraie:Everyday, from 11.30 am-02.00 pm / 06.30 pm-08.30 pm: hot meals, sandwiches, drinks.Sunday, February 15th 2014, Cinephile Lunch

63- Press Room Georges Revillot:Working room for professional Medias.

64- Catalogue : Get your free copy starting January 21st from Théâtre Edwige Feuillère, Youth Information Center andfrom Vesoul Tourism Office.Please support our partners and sponsors, featured within our catalogue.

65- Newsletter:Get a free copy of our daily newsletter at Majestic Cinema to learn more about the movies you are aboutto see.

66- Prices:Normal Price: 7 € 50Reduced Price: 5 € 50 < 30 years: 3 € - Pass 5 movies: 27 € 50 – Pass all movies: 70 €

67- Tickets:Passes are being sold from January 2nd 2015, @ Vesoul Tourism Office:2, rue Gevrey - BP : 90117 - 70002 Vesoul Cedex – Tel : 0033 3 84 97 10 85For all pass owners, it is possible to book your ticket up until 48 hours ahead of screening on spot or via ourwebsite: www.cinemas-asie.com

7- Website: www.cinemas-asie.com

8 - Info:

Festival International des Cinémas d'Asie: 25 rue Dr Doillon 70 000 VESOUL - FranceTel: 0033 3 84 76 55 82 - Fax: 0033 3 84 96 01 43 / During festival: 0033 7 82 12 09 86

Mail: festival.vesoul@wanadoo.fr – Website: cinemas-asie.comPress contact: Jean-Marc Thérouanne: 0033 6 84 84 87 46 –

Bastian Meiresonn : 0033 6 12 94 12 73