From Next Stop, Somewhere to Diamonds in the Sand, passing through The Prosecutor by the legendary Donnie Yen: a day full of stories that leave their mark.
At 18.00, the international premiere of the restored version of cult movie The System at the Visionario! The fourth day of FEFF 27 kicks off in Hong Kong with eternal superstar Donnie Yen and his legal action-thriller The Prosecutor, and ends in South Korea with the witty humour of Pilot, a spot-on remake of Swedish comedy Cockpit. In between, another 8 films spanning the entire day. Or rather, another 8 stories. Because the profound beauty of Asian popular cinema – which never ceases to range casually across genres – derives precisely from its inexhaustible ability to create stories. An art that the audiences of the Far East have learned to know and love since the now far-off 1999.
Today (27 April) the FEFF takes us to Taipei and Malaysia to tell us the story of Next Stop, Somewhere: two apparently unconnected couples, four characters who feel trapped or uprooted. The film reflects on the bittersweet price of freedom, be it political, personal or sentimental, and sees one of the Udine festival's dearest and oldest friends shining bright: the immense Anthony Whong, winner of the 2019 Golden Mulberry. If the complexity of Next Stop, Somewhere might seem like a response to the cheerful simplicity of Japan's She Taught Me Serendipity, here's a story that takes us to the Philippines: Diamonds in the Sand (and let's not forget that all three of these titles are in the running for the Mulberry for Best Screenplay). Janus Victoria's debut film, which tackles themes of metropolitan loneliness and the need to seek a happy "elsewhere", will also reward viewers with the presence on stage of the legendary Lily Franky, one of the most famous and beloved faces of Asian cinema!
And it goes without saying that the public is waiting with baited breath for the international premiere at the Visionario at 6:00 pm: the restoration of pitch black 1979 Hong Kong cult movie The System, directed by Peter Yung, which until today has been absolutely impossible to see.
All the fourth day, minute by minute!
09:00 – News from Asia The daily press review by Giulia Pompili and Francesco Radicioni.
09:00 THE PROSECUTOR Directed by Donnie Yen (Hong Kong, 2024) A top-flight legal action-thriller directed by and starring eternal superstar Donnie Yen!
10:45 FEFF TALKS This morning's talks, looking at Thai cinema, Korean cinema and Japanese cinema.
11:15 NEXT STOP, SOMEWHERE Directed by James Lee and Jeremiah Foo (Malaysia, 2025) A painful and realistic film that reflects on the bittersweet price of freedom - political, personal and emotional.
12:00 CAMPUS TALK
14:00 - Visionario A THOUSAND YEAR FOX Directed by Shin Sang-ok (South Korea, 1969/Digitalised 2025) A woman and her desperate desire for revenge.
14:30 SHE TAUGHT ME SERENDIPITY Directed by Ohku Akiko (Japan, 2024) Life can offer us lucky encounters - but if we act selfishly that luck can turn into eternal regret...
15:50 - Visionario THE FOX WITH NINE TAILS Directed by Park Heonsu (South Korea, 1994/Digitalised 2025) A young Seoul taxi driver meets beautiful Hara and falls in love with her. But a mysterious man warns him that she is much more dangerous than she seems.
16:55 DIAMONDS IN THE SAND Directed by Janus Victoria (Philippines , 2024) Janus Victoria's debut film tackles themes of metropolitan loneliness and the need to seek a happy "elsewhere". On the stage of the FEFF, the film's star: the legendary Lily Franky!
17:45 BAMBÙ TALKS Giulia Pompili and Francesco Radicioni discuss Trump's Back and Asia is Trembling Too: Risks and Consequences of a Looming 2.0 Trade War. They'll be speaking with Reuters journalist Lisa Jucca (via video-link) and Radio24 journalist Antonio Talia.
18:00 - Visionario MADE IN HONG KONG: A PAIR OF SHORTS Directed by To Chun-him and Frankie Lee Chak-hang (Hong Kong, 2024).
Followed by THE SYSTEM Directed by Peter Yung (Hong Kong, 1979/Restored 2025) The eagerly-anticipated restored version of Peter Yung's cult 1979 Hong Kong movie The System, impossible to see until today.
19:30 A BAD SUMMER Directed by Hideo Jojo (Japan, 2025) The heat can get to you, as the characters in this dark thriller know all too well.
21:45 PILOT Directed by Kim Han-kyul (South Korea, 2024) When famous pilot Han Jung-woo finds himself involved in a scandal that ruins his reputation, he finds himself with no choice: the only way to carry on flying is to borrow his sister's identity and dress as a woman! Exit star Jo Jung-suk makes this sparking and irresistible remake of Swedish comedy Cockpit (2012) comedy shine.