East Winds, the UK’s only major showcase of East Asian cinema outside of London and the first of its kind in the Midlands, returns to Coventry between 31st October and 2nd November with a stunning selection of popular film from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand and Japan, reinforcing its status as one of the most prestigious events in the region.

Partners in Crime

Opening the festival on Friday is the European Premiere of the dark, brooding and sinister Taiwanese tale “Partners in Crime” from acclaimed director Chang Jung-chi who takes the teenage angst into an entirely more mature and disturbing area.

Greatful Dead

On the night, Japanese black comedy “Greatful Dead” from Third Window Films will follow a young woman with a dysfunctional childhood as she transitions from a peeping tom spying on people who have gone crazy from loneliness into a full-fledged stalker of old men. Touching or disturbing?

Viewers will be kept on the edge of their seats on Saturday with an assortment of highly anticipated films.

Lust of Angels

Starting things off with a chilling glimpse into twisted minds is Third Window Films’ Presentation of Isogai Nagisa’s short thriller “Lust of Angels” as a group of schoolgirls go on a hunt for gropers.

Laddaland

From acclaimed director Sophon Sakdaphisit comes box office hit “Laddaland”, a horror based on the real story of a haunted condo development which will remind audiences of “The Amityville Horror” and “Poltergeist”.

Z-Storm

Following this, Louis Koo will play a tense game of cat and mouse with the high-powered fat cats of Hong Kong in

the European Premiere of David Lam’s first film in 15 years, “Z Storm”.

Saturday night will play host to the International Festival Premiere of “The Swimmers”, the latest intricate

The Swimmers

horror from Thailand’s champion of scares and slow burn chills, Sophon Sakdaphisit.

A Record of Sweet Murder

Playing for the first time in Europe and closing the second day is Japanese/South Korean co-production “A Record of Sweet Murder” from Koji Shiraishi, one of Japan’s leading directors in underground horror, who converges deranged fantasy and stark reality into a terrible nightmare.

The last day of the festival brings with it a lighter tone, kicking off with the International Festival Premiere of

Live @ Love

romantic comedy “Live @ Love”, featuring a cast of rising stars in Taiwanese TV and film as they work in an inconspicuous private detective agency.

A first in the international festival sphere, Sunday afternoon will deliver a throwback to the classic Hollywood B-movies of the ’60s and ’70s with “Bugs”. Shockly fun and scares in real 3D await.

Wonder Mama

Renowned director Clifton Ko will be bringing his family drama “Wonder Mama”, featuring a superb performance from Petrina Fung Bo Bo as a 49-year old librarian whose mellow world is shattered when she learns her teenage maid has been impregnated by her 70-year old father, and finds herself torn between her parents’ divorce at on old age, the pressure of raising the new-born, her missing husband and her 30-year old unemployed son who still lives with her.

In the past, East Winds Closing Ceremonies have left attendees wanting more and this year is no different. The European Premiere of Nithiwat Tharatorn’s Thai box office smash hit “The Teacher’s Diary”, which has been selected as the official entry into the Oscars’ foreign-language division, will bring a sweet and sentimental comedy-drama that follows the intertwining stories of two lonely teachers posted to the same rural school a year apart.

The festival will also be offering audiences an exclusive behind the scenes look at East Asian cinema by inviting special guests to introduce their films and mingle with audiences.
The full schedule and tickets are now available at www.eastwindsfilmfest.com.