2020-12-08

SIFF Asia World Express | Refreshing Chinese Cinema in Jogja, Indonesia

The 15th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival (JAFF) took place on November 25. Two new Chinese films WISDOM TOOTH and WILD SWORDS selected by the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) were screened online via the SIFF 2020 unit specially set up at the JAFF, presenting Indonesian audience “refreshing Chinese Cinema” in this winter.

SIFF and JAFF reached close partnership under the World Express program in 2018. That year, JAFF set up an independent unit to show 5 Chinese films recommended by SIFF. In 2019, the SIFF Asia World Express arrived in Jogja again, with three Chinese movies released in theatre, all of which were well-received among the Indonesian audience. This year, SIFF has carefully selected two outstanding Chinese features – WISDOM TOOTH and WILD SWORDS, from the shortlisted candidates for the Golden Goblet Awards, the Asian New Talent Awards and the Panorama. Through online screening, the two are expected to show the local audience the new look of Chinese cinema.

Directed by LIANG Ming and starring LV Xingchen, WU Xiaoliang, and WANG Jiajia, WISDOM TOOTH depicts the world from the perspective of girl Gu Xi, presenting a story of growth that takes place in a small town on the northern border of China in the cold winter of 1999. As the official candidate of the Asian New Talent Awards this year, the film is scheduled for public release in China from November 27. Therefore, for the Indonesian audience, this online screening allows them to watch this amazing work simultaneously with the Chinese viewers.

WILD SWORDS, a new work by film critic LI Yunbo, is about a bloodbath between the martial arts assassins from two great sects: Tang-men Sect and Nameless Sect during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. As a featured selected into the panorama program – Refreshing Chinese Cinema at the 23rd SIFF, it had previously traveled to the Adelaide Film Festival in Australia and the San Diego Asian Film Festival in the US along with the SIFF World Express. The unique martial arts style of the film has not only impressed the foreign audience, but also gone viral on overseas social media, receiving likes from a number of international film critics.

The Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, held every November, is one of the most important film festivals in Asia and designed to showcase the latest developments of Asian cinema. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th JAFF was moved online from November 25 to 29, featuring 57 feature films and 71 short films from 29 countries.

Since August this year, SIFF Asia World Express has traveled to Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries, introducing WILD GRASS, SEEING NARA AGAIN, SPRING TIDE, IF YOU ARE HAPPY, WILD SWORDS, WISDOM TOOTH and other outstanding new films to the international market. As a key part of the SIFF ASIA framework, SIFF Asia World Express not only allows audiences from all Asian countries to appreciate the charm of new Chinese filmmakers and works, but also demonstrates SIFF’s commitment to "focusing on Asia, promoting Chinese films, and supporting new talents”.