UDINE. There are at least three good reasons to follow the 23 edition of the Feff which inaugurated in Udine: the always high quality of the films on the program (64, born during a period of darkness, including 8 world premieres, 10 international, 22 European, 20 Italian), the return of the festival in attendance after the long lockdown and the fact that the festival takes possession of the city again (the five rooms, the outdoor arena, the squares with about sixty events).
Great films, with great protagonists. Zhang Yimou (the director of the award-winning Red Lanterns, in the photo opposite) had always dreamed of shooting a spy story. His project has become reality and it will be “Cliff Walkers”, his latest effort, to inaugurate the Opening Night: secret agents, conspiracies and some nuances of melò for a mission in China in the 1930s. A precious Festival Premiere that at 9.45 pm will officially baptize the brand new outdoor Arena set up for the occasion by the Feff on the lawn of the Visionary Cinema: 400 seats and a giant screen of 12 meters by 5.
But today, viewers will also be able to enjoy the two pre-opening titles: the Chinese war blockbuster “The Eight Hundred” (at 3pm), and the irresistible Thai comedy “The Con-Heartist” (at 6pm).
A festival in attendance but which, taking into account the positive experience of last year, will also live online on the platform managed with the technical support of MYmovies: those who will not be present in Udine will therefore be able to follow the films of the festival from home, starting from the action thriller “Shock Wave 2” (another of the surprises of the festival), played by the super star Andy Lau and signed by Herman Yau.
But the big news this year is the return to the center. In fact, the Feff takes back the urban spaces and invades the city: the venue for most of the events will be the Loris Fortuna Garden, but the Ricasoli Gardens, the Loggia del Lionello and Piazza San Giacomo will also be the stage for the events (over sixty). , which will host the Info Point of the Festival and the Far East Market, which this year blends Made in Asia and Art & Design in a single appointment.
There is a great desire to be outdoors: what could be better than watching a good movie then? –