Udine 2015: ScreenAnarchy's Most Anticipated Picks

We've been waiting for this moment for a whole year now: Thursday, April 23rd marks the grand opening of the 17th Udine Far East Film Festival, without a doubt one of the world's most important cultural events dedicated exclusively to genre and mainstream Asian cinema.

A beautifully situated and wonderfully organized festival that attracts a growing number of visitors every year, Udine Far East Film Fest will be inaugurated by the legendary Joe Hisaishi, composer best known for his wonderful scores for many Miyazaki Hayao and Kitano Takeshi masterpieces. Perhaps to no one's surprise, tickets for this truly unique concert sold out in less than a week.

The festival will showcase 63 feature films, 4 documentaries and 4 short films representing 11 countries, and host many special guests, including Jackie Chan, who will present the international premiere of his latest project, the historical epic Dragon Blade, which is also the fest's official opening film. Other notable guests will include Herman Yau (Sara), Yamashita Nobuhiro (La La La at Rock Bottom), Take Masaharu (100 Yen LoveUnsung Hero), Teddy Chen (Kung Fu Jungle), Chih-yen Lee (Meeting Dr. Sun), among others.

The event will conclude with a screening of Tsui Hark's period action-adventure The Taking of Tiger Mountain. Digitally restored versions of China's Stage Sisters (1964), Japan's The Tragedy of Bushido (1960) and South Korea's The Man with Three Coffins (1989) will also have their world premieres at Udine.

Loïc Valceschini and I will be on the ground covering the festival, so keep an eye out for our posts and, if you see us out and about, come and say hi! In the gallery below, we've handpicked some of our most anticipated films of this year's fest. Be sure to check it out!

The 17th Udine Far East Film Festival runs from April 23rd to May 2nd.
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