Two Award-Winning Documentaries Mark Revival of New Asia Monthly Film Series

The showing of two award-winning films at the Richmond Cultural Centre on January 31 will mark the revival of the monthly film screenings leading up to the second annual New Asia Film Festival taking place in May 2009.

Film critics have described both films, Kindergarten from China and Burning Dreams from Taiwan, as cinematic gems. Each were rated at the top of the list for the Audience Choice Award at the first New Asia Film Festival in 2008 – Burning Dreams won.

The films will be shown:
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009
Time: Kindergarten starts at 7:00 p.m.
Burning Dreams starts at 8:30 p.m.
Location: Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate
Admission: Free. However, a one-time $5 membership is required.

Seats are limited, so plan to arrive early.

About the films
Kindergarten (China/ 2004/ Director: Zhang Yiqing/ 69 min/ Beijing Channel Zero Media.) Language: Mandarin + English subtitles.

This film is an intimate portrait of childhood. Shot over 14 months, the film records the everyday lives of children at a boarding kindergarten in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Kindergarten won the 2007 10th Rai International Festival of Ethnographic Film Award, the 2004 Most Innovative Documentary Shanghai International TV Festival Award and the 2004 Grand Prize Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival Award.

Burning Dreams (Taiwan/ 2003/ Director: Wayne Peng Wen Chun/ 35 min/ Pure Films.) Language: Mandarin + English subtitles.

This black and white musical documentary is the first film about tap dancing and jazz in China. Burning Dreams has won several awards including those from the 2008 New Asia Film Festival, 2004 Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2004 San Francisco International Film Festival, 2004 Sydney International Film Festival, 2003 London Film Festival, 2003 Vancouver International Film Festival, and the 2003 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival.

The event is presented by Richmond Cultural Centre and Cinevolution Media Arts Society, sponsored by The City of Richmond, Beijing Channel Zero Media, and Pure Films.

For more information please call 604-247-8300 or visit www.vnaff.ca

About the New Asia Film Festival
The film series builds on the success of the first New Asia Film Festival, held last May. The 2009 film festival is scheduled for May 8 to 10.

Founded by the Cinevolution Media Arts Society and the Richmond Cultural Centre, the 2008 film festival featured 27 new films over the four days, focusing on contemporary, often controversial themes found in Asian cultures from around the world. Most of the films have rarely been screened in Canada prior to the festival.