Yermek Tursunov’s 2015 film, Stranger (Zhat), will open the Asia House, 2016 Film Festival on February 22 at the Ham Yard Hotel in London.
The film, Kazakhstan’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars, is a beautifully shot outdoors epic set in 1930s Kazakhstan, and charts one man’s search for freedom set against the historical backdrop of the country’s darkest years.
Tursunov, who directed the film, will host a Q&A session following the screening along with the film’s producer, Kanat Torebay.
The full programme for the festival has also been confirmed, with this year’s theme of Breaking Boundaries reflected in a diverse programme of 19 films, including five European and six UK premieres. All of the films will be shown in London for the first time.
Now in its eighth year, the festival will run until March 5, and will include 11 feature films, three documentaries and five short films coming out of countries including Japan, China, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Jasper Sharp, the Festival’s Artistic Director, said: “The films selected as part of the 2016 programme represent a world in which culture, politics and economies are transcending national boundaries. There will be a number of films from countries often completely overlooked by followers of Asian cinema, giving audiences a chance to experience the lives and landscapes of such a dynamic and multi-faceted continent.”
For a full list of screenings and to book tickets, click here:
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