About The Festival
The London East Asia Film Festival was established in 2015 as a non-profit arts organisation to champion the growing collaboration and diversity in East Asian filmmaking.
After an incredibly successful pre-festival in 2015, LEAFF’s 1st edition officially launched in 2016 on 20th October at ODEON Leicester Square with THE AGE OF SHADOWS (dir. Kim Jee-woon). 40 films were screened over 11 days at venues across central London, and ended with Closing Gala film, THREE (dir. Johnnie To).
LEAFF aims to champion the growing collaboration in East Asian filmmaking with a philosophy that marks a shift in the cinematic landscape of East Asia, and moves away from cultural and cinematic borders. Our vision is to bring a much wider, eclectic, and diverse programme of films from over 13 countries to show the richness and diversity of the region and its people. We want to draw people in with the familiar, and offer opportunities to see something new.
A Message from the director
a Message from the
Mayor of London
The London East Asia Film Festival is the capital’s most celebrated champion of East Asian cinema. I am delighted to be supporting the festival this year, and am looking forward to the fantastic programme of cinematic offerings from across East Asia.
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and I am proud to be the Mayor of a capital city that prides itself on being a global beacon of diversity, fairness and equality. It is the perfect place to showcase such incredible stories.
Our cultural and creative sectors have been devastated by the coronavirus, but during these difficult times culture has provided solace and connection as well as entertainment.
I wish all of those involved in the London East Asia Film Festival the best with their fifth annual programme, and I’m in no doubt that it will be met with passion, once again, by Londoners.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
The return to cinemas has been a long, arduous journey. The last 18 months has seen cinemas close and audiences have turned to their small screens for entertainment. But the collective tradition is far from dead. Films have and will hopefully always be made to be shown in the cinema, in the company of others.
LEAFF returns for its sixth edition as strong as ever, dedicated to reinvigorating the cinema experience and reminding audiences of its magic.
More than ever, East Asian films and talent are receiving widespread recognition at globally renowned award ceremonies. Despite this, many East Asian stories
still find difficulty in reaching cinemas in the West. As global cultures continue to intersect, it is more important than ever to foster cross-cultural understanding and empathy. Cinema is the perfect platform to bridge this gap. The films in this year’s programme testify to the reach of this medium.
Once again touring its programme around the country, this year’s edition showcases 2 international, 5 London, 6 European and 19 UK premieres, with features from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition to the Official Selection and Competition titles, this year’s festival shines a light on contemporary Hong Kong Cinema, includes a programme of the best documentaries and a selection of classic titles for you to enjoy.
Alongside our diverse screening programme, we have curated a gastronomic journey at our venues and partnered-up with major Asian brands to bring a holistic experience to our festival. In a year where transnational travel has halted, we hope this will bring the world to you. Be it a sense of adventure or a taste of ‘home’, this year’s festival has it all.
We welcome everyone back to the cinema, where great stories are waiting to be told. Enjoy the festival.
Hyejung Jeon, Festival Director
