CineAsia

Adelaide welcomes Asian cinema at its eclectic best

Asia boasts some of the most dynamic film industries in the world, producing movies that feature the extremes of electrifying action and soul-searching insights, sometimes within the confines of the same film.

Although enjoying big audiences in the eastern States, the vast majority of Asian films bypass Adelaide. Now, thanks to a collaboration between the Screen Studies Department of Flinders University and the Media Resource Centre, local audiences will have a chance to catch up on some of Asia's most startling recent cinema releases.

CineAsia, a program of 24 films to be screened fortnightly at the Mercury Cinema, will feature an eclectic mix of style and genre from Japan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea India and Iran.

The films represent some of the most internationally successful and domestically popular works of the last few years, ranging from the highly influential (and deeply creepy) new Asian horror films to spectacular historical epics.

Flinders University film academic Dr Michael Walsh, who helped select the program, said the films were not only vastly entertaining and frequently ground-breaking, but offered insights into the lives and cultures of the populations in our neighbouring region.

CineAsia will use specially imported new 35mm prints for its program, thanks to the support of sponsors that include the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Australia-India Council, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and Singha Beer.

CineAsia will run every second Wednesday night at 7.30pm at the Mercury (13 Morphett Street, City), with a break during the Festival of Arts and Fringe. Tickets are $11/$9 per session. For pre-sales, ring 8410 0979. For any further information, ring Adele Hann on the same number, or email her at: a.hann@mrc.org.au