The 2012 Vancouver International Film Festival runs from September 27 to October 12. I am the VIFF programmer responsible for Chinese language films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia. I’ve programmed 16 Chinese language films this year. Links lead to the descriptions I’ve written at the VIFF website.
From HK:
McDull the Pork of Music / 麥兜噹噹伴我心 dir: Brian Tse, Alice Mak
East Meets West / 東成西就 2011 dir: Jeff Lau
Beautiful 2012 / 美好2012 (Taiwan/PRC/HK/Korea) dirs: Ann Hui, Tsai Ming-liang, Gu Changwei, Kim Tae-yong
From Taiwan:
Together / 甜‧祕密 dir: Rox Hsu
Poor Folk / 窮人。榴槤。麻藥。偷渡客 dir: Midi Z (world premiere)
10+10 dirs: Hou Hsiao-hsien ; Wang Shau-di ; Wang Tung ; Chu Yen-ping ; Ho Wi-ding ; Wu Nien-chen ; Hou Chi-jan ; Sylvia Chang ; Chang Tso-chi ; Chen Yu-hsun ; Chen Kuo-fu ; Arvin Chen ; Doze Niu ; Yang Ya-che ; Cheng Wen-tang ; Cheng Yu-chieh ; Hsiao Ya-chuan ; Leon Dai Liren ; Chung Mong-hong ; Wei Te-sheng ; Shen Ko-shang
From Malaysia:
If It’s Not Now Then When? / 如果還有明天 (James Lee)
Documentaries from China:
Three Sisters / 三姊妹 dir: Wang Bing
When the Bough Breaks / 危巢 dir: Ji Dan
People’s Park / 人民公园 dirs: J.P. Sniadecki & Libbie Cohn
China features:
Egg and Stone / 東成西就 2011 dir: Huang Ji
Memories Look At Me / 记忆望着我 dir: Song Fang (Dragons & Tigers Competition)
When Night Falls / 我还有话要说 dir: Ying Liang
Emperor Visits The Hell / 唐皇游地府 dir: Li Luo (Dragons & Tigers Competition)
The Love Songs of Tiedan 美姐; dir: Hao Jie
All Apologies / 爱的替身 dir: Emily Tang
Design of Death / 杀生 dir: Guan Hu
Beijing Flickers / 有种 dir: Zhang Yuan
The Hunter and the Skeleton / 猎人与骷髅怪 (short), dir. Gyatso Gentsu
Descriptions of the complete VIFF 2012 Dragons and Tigers Cinema of East Asia series at this link. I’ve co-curated D&T for the past 4 years with my colleague Tony Rayns, who programmes our films from Japan, South Korea, The Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, and who is responsible as well for the Dragons and Tigers Award for Young Cinema.
Among the directors coming to Vancouver (27 Sept – 12 Oct) are:
Song Fang, MEMORIES LOOK AT ME ; in the Dragons and Tigers competition
Li Luo, EMPEROR VISITS THE HELL; in the D&T competition
Midi Z, POOR FOLK
Huang Ji, EGG AND STONE
Wang Bing, THREE SISTERS
Ying Liang, WHEN NIGHT FALLS
Libbie Cohn, PEOPLE’S PARK
– Shelly Kraicer, 26 September 2012
Chinese Cinemas 