There are loads, so get ready:
- Shakespeare in 37 Languages (various dates in May), London, UK
Featured as part of the London Globe Theatre’s special “Globe to Globe” event for the Olympics, there will be performances in Korean as well as in Japanese (among many other languages). Do check out the complete programme.
May 1: 한여름밤의 꿈 (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) - performed in Korean by the Yohangza Theatre Company. (Note: unfortunately this will be over by the time this post is published.)
May 3 + 4: 泰特斯 (Titus Andronicus) - performed in Cantonese by Tang Shu-Wing Theatre Studio.
May 21 + 22:「コリオレイナス」(Corolianus) - performed in Japanese by Chiten.
- Sci-Fi Film Festival, London, UK (May 1-7, 2012)
May 5: Anime all-nighter - Includes: 「Fade to Black 君の名を呼ぶ」 (Fade to Black – Kimi no Na o Yobu/Bleach 3 Fade to Black, Japan, 2008);「Freedom」(Japan, 2008) – dir. Morita Shuhei, screening complete series; マルドゥック・スクランブル (Marudukku Sukuranburu/Mardock Scramble, Japan, 2010 and 2011) – dir. Kudo Susumo, screening both 1st compression and 2nd combustion; バンパイアハンターD (Banpaia hantâ D/Bloodlust: Vampire Hunter D, Japan, 2000) – dir. Kawajiri Yoshiaki.
I’m not really familiar with any of these, but I’m sure all the full-blooded anime fans know.
May 5: ロボジー (Robo Ji/Robo-G, Japan, 2012) – UK premiere.
The Robo Ji Vision of the World.
- 2012 Golden Festival, Cambridge Union Society, Cambridge, UK
May 2-5: Various Japanese-related activities at the Cambridge Union Society’s annual festival, which is open to the public. Japanese cinema will have its day on May 4th. Films to be screened: Studio Ghibli’s 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi/Spirited Away, 2001), Kurosawa Akira’s 七人の侍 (Shichinin no Samurai/Seven Samurai, 1954) and Nakata Hideo’s horror classic リング (Ringu/Ring, 1998). Tickets: £3 members, £4 other and free popcorn for all.
Full details on the Golden Festival programme.
- KCCUK: 2012: Year of 12 Directors – Jeon Kye-soo (전계수), London, UK
The director focus for May is Jeon Kye-soo. There will be three film showings this month, the first two screening at the Korean Cultural Centre, the final one at the Apollo Cinema (Piccadilly Circus) with a director’s Q&A. More details on the director and the films are available via a previous post on Otherwhere.
Screening dates: May 10, 24 and 31. The first two are free events (booking required).
- China in Britain (May 10 and 31, 2012), London, UK
Translating in China, an AHRC-funded research network project, is organising two special events with film screenings, talks and a roundtable discussion.
May 10: 中国姑娘 (She, A Chinese, 2009) – includes Q&A with director and author Xiaolu Guo. Film Trailer.
May 31: Soursweet (1988) – Director Mike Newell will talk about his film.
Attendance is free, but RSVP required. More information is available here.
- School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK
May 10: Korean Film: Years of Radical Change - A daylong workshop on some of the most important issues in Korean cinema lead by academics and experts in the field. The event is open to the public and free, but advance registration is required. Details (including programme details and speakers) at the SOAS website.
- Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, UK
May 16-30: ハラがコレなんで (Hara Ga Kore Nande/Mitsuko Delivers, Japan, 2011). Multiple screenings at the ICA. REVIEW of Hara Ga Kore Nande.
- Films at the Japanese Embassy, London, UK
May 23: 風音 (Fuon/The Crying Wind, 2004) – directed by Higashi Yoichi. The film won the Innovation Award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2004.
More details on the film and how to book a free seat are available here.
- 4th Taiwan Cinefest (May 24 – 26, 2012), London, UK
Five films, all UK premieres, will be screening as part of the 4th Taiwan Cinefest. See my previous post on this for full details. Note: A French edition of the festival takes places in Paris a week prior to the London one, New York and LA editions are planned for the autumn.
Studio Ghibli’s Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi will be screening in Cambridge.
Events are also listed on the London/UK/World Calendar.
The anime screening feature some top-notch titles – Spirited Away was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had in a cinema. Mardock Scramble has been generally getting excellent reviews and Vampire Hunter D is pretty cool – better than Twilight anyway. Speaking of Shakespeare you reminded me that Hiroshi Abe is in London and taking part in an adaptation of Cymbeline but tickets are sold out.
http://www.japansociety.org.uk/23591/ninagawa-company-present-cymbeline/
Spirited Away must be pretty awesome to see on the big screen, but I probably wouldn’t go all the way to Cambridge for it (well, for a premiere of something I would, since it’s not that far or that expensive).
Anything is better than Twilight!
Ah, that Cymbeline production sounds wonderful, too bad it’s sold out.
I went to see Robo-G and it wasn’t too bad, improved by the excitable Sci-Fi Film Festival goers.
That doesn’t sound like you enjoyed it too much! Was the festival well attended? I heard some films were booked out.
The running time hurt it, if they knocked 15-20 minutes off it would’ve been a lot better, there was a sub plot that wasn’t resolved properly (I think) and could have been removed completely….I think it was supposed to go further than it did.
The screen was sold out as far as I could tell.