Asia House Film Festival: Passion *London Premiere*

London Premiere
Passion
(Byamba Sakhya, Mongolia, 2010) 83 mins

A poignant introduction to two very different eras of Mongolian cinema set against the country’s expansive backdrop, in which we join up-and- coming director Byamba Sakhya as he documents a journey across the steppes undertaken by another filmmaker, Binder Jigjid. As Binder sets out on an epic road trip from village to village to promote his new micro-budget feature, he contrasts his own experiences working within the commercial climate of the contemporary industry with that of his father, Jigjid Dejid, a key figure in Mongolian cinema during the studio golden age of the Communist regime. A vivid depiction of a society that has undergone vast changes set against timeless landscape, Sakhya’s bittersweet account of the journey provides more than just a comprehensive introduction to an underexplored cinematic heritage. It poses questions about how an artist can survive within a radically changed system, and whether passion is ever enough to triumph against harsh economic reality.The director Byamba Sakhya will be in attendance.

-

Asia House is thrilled to announce the full programme of its seventh annual Asia House Film Festival which will take place from 27 March to 31 March 2015, generously supported once again by Prudential plc. This year’s theme of New Generations reflects on new talents, new styles, new landscapes and new modes of film production from and about the Asia Pacific region – from Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesian, India, Japan and Uzbekistan, with a special focus and retrospective on Mongolia.

The festival includes an exciting selection of features, documentaries and shorts, including two European premieres, eight UK premieres and one London premiere, alongside a showcase of classic films. Asia House is also excited to announce this year’s festival venues: Ham Yard Theatre, Rich Mix, The Horse Hospital and the Cinema Museum