NHK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL + Sundance Institute/NHK Award

Ice Kacang Puppy Love
2010 / Malaysia / 100min.

[Synopsis]
This film is set in rural Malaysia in the early 90's. Botak, the quiet and shy second son of a small café owner, has a crush on the strong-minded Fighting Fish, who lives under the same roof. Unable to confess his feelings toward her, he expresses his affection by drawing pictures of her. Fighting Fish, deeply resenting her mother, longs to see her father, whom she hasn’t seen since she was little. Soon comes the time for a change in the lives of the two and their childhood friends.

This is the first film of Aniu, a Malaysian singer/songwriter active in Taiwan, who co-wrote, directed, and also starred in the film. Many Malaysian popular singers and actors appear in the film.

THE LIGHT THIEF
2010 / Kyrgyz=France=Germany=Italy=Netherland / 80min.

*2010 The Directors' Fortnight
*2010 Locarno Film Festival
*2010 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
*2011 San Francisco International Film Festival

[Synopsis]
In a small village in Kyrgyzstan, there lived Mr. Light, an electrician. He was a sincere man loved by everyone. He only thought of the interest of the villagers; he had been stealing electricity to help the impoverished local residents. The tranquil rural life in the village was, however, about to change. News of political turmoil was spread through radio broadcasts. People with different values started to arrive at this village.

This is the first film in nine years by Aktan Abdykalykov, the Kyrgyz director of "The Adopted Son" and "The Chimp," both of which were previously released in Japan. Now, under his original Kyrgyz name Arym Kubat, he both directed and acted in the film. It was screened at the Director's Fortnight Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

WINTER VACATION
2010 / China / 91min.

*2010 Locarno Film Festival International Competition    Golden Leopard
*2010 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
*2011 Hong Kong International Film Festival

[Synopsis]
This film is set in Inner Mongolia, northern China. Today is the last day of winter vacation. The adolescents gather and laze around. Daily lives are boring. It is as if nothing new ever happens…or does it?

This is a Chinese movie full of well-constructed, beautiful images and a fresh, unique sense of humor. It won first prize, the Pardo d’oro/Golden Leopard, at the 2010 Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. Li Hongqi, a screenwriter/director, is also a poet and novelist. This is his third feature, after "So Much Rice" (2005) and "Routine Holiday" (2008).

DELHI-6
2009 / India / 141min.

*2009 Venice International Film Festival
*2009 Bangkok International Film Festival
*2010 Aruba International Film Festival

[Synopsis]
Roshan, a New Yorker of Indian origin, goes to Delhi accompanying his grandmother, who wants to return to her home town. This place is called "Old Delhi," where the Hindus and the Muslims live side by side harmoniously. Everything there seems new and fresh to Roshan. Soon, he starts to fall for the beautiful Bittu who lives close by. In the meantime, the town is swept with the news of a fearsome terror, but never seen clearly, known as the "Kala Bandar (The Black Monkey)". The fear for the Invisible soon provokes an incident...

This is a new film by R. O. Mehra, the director of "Rang De Basanti (2006)," a smash hit in India. With a beautiful score by A.R. Rahman, winner of two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song for "Slumdog Millionaire", the film magnificently depicts Old Delhi as another main character in the movie. The number "6" from the title indicates the postal code of Old Delhi.