Helsinki Cine Aasia 2026 is now over – thank you for all the visitors!
Next year we will celebrate the festival’s 15th anniversary, but before that we will also organize special screenings, for example at Vuotalo on April 1st.
Also remember to answer our customer survey and you have a chance to win tickets for Helsinki Cine Aasia 2027.
You can find the survey here.
In true Helsinki Cine Aasia fashion, the programme once again includes fascinating discussion events alongside its intriguing film selection. What better way to spend a break between screenings than joining conversations with expert guests about topics ranging from traveling in a dictatorship to cultural changes in a post-war society and the shifting boundaries of traditional ideas about marriage?
On Saturday, we’ll host two exciting discussions. Photographer Onni Aaltonen will be discussing traveling and photographing in North Korea. The discussion will be in Finnish. Aaltonen’s wonderful photography exhibition In Transit – Travelling in North Korea will be on display in the lobby throughout the festival. Later on Saturday evening, you can witness a dystopian totalitarian state of a united Korea in the film The Fin.
The second discussion of the day will feature film- and culture enthusiast Thu Nguyen, who will be speaking about societal and cultural changes in Vietnam after the war, and how these shifts are reflected in Vietnamese cinema. This talk will be in English! The themes of the discussion connect with the film Ky Nam Inn, which will be screened before the discussion.
On Sunday, the focus turns to traditional and changing marriage customs in Japan. Scholar and author Minna Eväsoja, an expert on Japanese aesthetics, will be the guest speaker. This event will also be in Finnish. If you’re interested in themes of marriage and relationships in Japan, be sure to check out the film Sato and Sato, screening on Friday and Sunday.
All events are open to everyone and free of charge. They will take place in the top-floor lobby of Kinopalatsi, by the Kaisaniemenkatu entrance. You’re warmly welcome to come listen and take part in the conversation!
Travelling in North Korea. In Finnish. Sat 14.3. at 4:15 PM (16:15).
Vietnam After the War. In English. Sat 14.3. at 7:30 PM (19:30).
Marriage in Japan. In Finnish. Sun 15.3. at 4:05 PM (16:05).
Helsinki Cine Aasia -festival will take place in March from Thursday March 12 to Sunday March 15, and without volunteers our festival would not be possible.
Every volunteer receives a festival pass, which allows them to attend film screenings in their free time, along with other benefits.
We are looking for volunteers both during the festival and already in February to help distribute our posters and catalogues.
Check out the available roles and sign up to join us. If you are available to help with poster distribution starting in February, please mention this in your application.
THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM FOR 2026 HAS BEEN CLOSED.
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Once again, the festival programme will feature a wide selection of the latest Asian films. During the festival, audiences can dive into works by Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian filmmakers, ranging from vibrant comedies to deeply moving dramas.
For the latest information about the programme and ticket sales, follow the festival on social media – stay tuned and make sure you don’t miss the latest news.
Helsinki Cine Aasia Facebook
Helsinki Cine Aasia Instagram
Get ready for a journey into the captivating world of Asian cinema – see you in March!
Photo: Tanja Ryhänen
Photo: Tomi Rantanen
Helsinki Cine Aasia continues its impressive growth. The festival, held for the 13th time, attracted nearly 3,200 visitors, marking an incredible 30% increase compared to the previous year. This year’s festival featured the most extensive program to date, and larger halls at Finnkino Kinopalatsi allowed even more film enthusiasts to attend screenings.
“The festival reached a much broader audience this year, and we saw many new faces among the viewers. Ticket sales also got off to a great start,” says the festival’s artistic director, Eija Niskanen. “The number of films and the variety of genres were also the most extensive ever. We are pleased that all films found their audience,” Niskanen rejoices.
The festival’s most extensive program ever included a diverse selection of films from across East and Southeast Asia, as well as one film from Kyrgyzstan. The largest audiences were drawn to the heartwarming Japanese family drama Takano Tofu, the Cannes award-winning Chinese film Black Dog, and the Korean shamanic thriller Exhuma. In addition, panel discussions and other events held during the festival attracted a large audience.
Some festival films will be shown again during the summer as part of Cinema Orion’s summer series. Additionally, on April 2nd, Vuotalo will screen the Indonesian horror-drama Crocodile Tears, set on a crocodile farm. Screenings of the Korean Golden Age Cinema series, produced in collaboration with the Korean Film Archive and Kino Regina, will also continue throughout the spring at Kino Regina.
As a huge cat lover, I can’t help but be excited about this charming animation. As a filmmaker, I’m also fascinated by the different techniques used in filmmaking, especially when old methods are incorporated. Rotoscoping has become quite rare with the rise of motion capture, so I’m eager to see how this once-common (but inconsistently executed) technique works here. One thing is certain: an overload of cuteness awaits!
Joonas, Assistant Producer
Ghost Cat Anzu appeals to me first and foremost because of its fresh and cute animation style. The use of rotoscoping has resulted in fluid animation, but thanks to the round and soft character designs the use of the technique is not obvious. In addition, a story full of yokai and a zany speaking cat must be a good time!
Tuukka, Co-editor
I’ve always been drawn to Hong Sang-soo’s films, where narratives unfold through everyday conversations, slowly revealing intriguing details about the characters. Visually, his films are extremely simple, yet this only enhances their realism.
Tuomas, Webmaster
What I love about Hong Sang-soo’s films is that they feel like coming home when you sit down in the theater. Not much may happen in terms of plot, but even the smallest moments can carry immense emotional weight.
Muru, Communications Manager
As someone from the queer community, I naturally couldn’t miss a film that tells our stories—especially one from a culture so different from my own. It’s also refreshing to see a Vietnamese story that isn’t solely about war, though that theme is present too. While I long for more joy in both life and cinema, tragic stories often leave the deepest impact.
Joonas, Assistant Producer
Viet and Nam has a timeless arthouse cinema feel. The image quality of the 16 mm film and the compositions seen in the trailer immediately transported me to the warm and grainy film worlds of yesteryears. It will also be interesting to see a Vietnamese perspective on queer love and traumas of the Vietnam war.
Tuukka, Co-editor
Deal at the Border was a stylish and powerful film that stuck with me. It’s truly on an international level, despite coming from a smaller film country like Kyrgyzstan! My other top pick is the Taiwanese film Yen and Ai-Lee. Despite its heavy themes, it was a satisfying watch—both delicate and self-assured. Both films also stood out visually!
Jenni, Executive Director
Y2K culture has made a huge comeback in fashion and pop culture over the past year, and for me, it’s deeply nostalgic—bringing back all the trends of my teenage years. Victory is an energizing and refreshing sports film that makes me want to take up cheerleading again!
Muru, Communications Manager
Japanese movies about disenfranchised youth, like All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) and Blue Spring (2002), were pivotal in my budding interest in Asian cinema as an alienated teenager in the Finnish countryside. Neo Sora’s Happyend seems to share the same bittersweet tone and naturalistic performances that still resonate with me.
Tuukka, Co-editor
As a huge fan of Ryuichi Sakamoto, I’m incredibly excited to follow his son’s filmmaking journey. I missed Happyend in Busan, but now I finally get the chance to immerse myself in its dystopian world and its unique take on youth cinema.
Muru, Communications Manager
The hugely popular An Unfinished Film has been moved from Kinopalatsi’s theatre 4 to the larger theatre 5. That means there are tickets available again for the previously sold-out screening! There are just under 70 more seats in the new theatre, so act quickly if you want to secure your ticket to the screening. An Unfinished Film is the latest work by Chinese independent auteur Lou Ye, which depicts a film production that gets stuck during the corona period. In connection with the theatre change, the second screening of the film Maru has been moved to hall 4.
This year’s program includes highly anticipated new films from renowned directors such as Jia Zhangke, Ogigami Naoko, and Hong Sang-soo, as well as internationally discussed titles. Additionally, the festival highlights emerging cinema from smaller film-producing countries such as Kyrgyzstan. The festival’s focus remains on East and Southeast Asia, featuring, for example, queer cinema from Vietnam and an unusual horror-drama, Crocodile Tears, set on an Indonesian crocodile farm.
This year, the festival presents a larger selection of films and a more diverse range of genres, including animation and documentaries.
Key New Films from East and Southeast Asia
A special theme of this year’s festival is South Korea, which will also be represented through a retrospective of golden-age classics at Kino Regina. This special screening series is organized in collaboration with Helsinki Cine Aasia, the National Audiovisual Institute KAVI, and the Korean Film Archive. As part of the series, Korean film scholar Hwang Min-jin will attend as a guest and lead a discussion at Kinopalatsi during the festival.
The main festival program features major South Korean productions, including the war drama Harbin, starring Hyun Bin, the nostalgic ’90s-themed Victory starring K-pop idol Lee Hyeri, and a documentary featuring BTS’s RM. Fans of Hong Sang-soo can look forward to By the Stream, while horror enthusiasts will be intrigued by Exhuma.
The festival’s opening film is the Chinese film Black Dog, set near the Gobi Desert in the year of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The film, which won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes last year, offers stunning visual landscapes and features a compelling performance by key contemporary Chinese director Jia Zhangke. Jia’s latest film, Caught by the Tides, will also be screened, offering a perspective on filmmaking in COVID-era China using footage from his previous films. The pandemic is also a theme in An Unfinished Film by veteran auteur Lou Ye.
Among Asia’s cinematic powerhouses, Japan remains a central focus. Teki Cometh, which won multiple top prizes at the Tokyo International Film Festival, tells a gripping story of a literature professor’s descent into paranoia. Director Ogigami Naoko, known to Finnish audiences for Kamome Diner and her unique characters, presents Maru, about an artist obsessed with circular shapes.
Japanese animation is well represented, including the charming The Colors Within and the mischievous Ghost Cat Anzu. A highly discussed documentary at the festival is Black Box Diaries by journalist Ito Shiori, a personal account of a high-profile sexual assault case that ignited Japan’s #MeToo movement. The film is a finalist for the Best Documentary Oscar but has also sparked legal disputes and criticism over unauthorized use of materials.
Ticket sales for the four-day film event will begin on Thursday, February 27. Tickets for individual screenings cost €12, while a five-ticket pass is available for €48. Entry to the discussion sessions is free.
Every year the festival has had a bunch of invaluable volunteers helping on making the event happen. Volunteers’ tasks range from distributing the festival posters and catalogues to customer service during the festival weekend. Note that some of the work takes place in February before the festival.
Kino Regina’s spring program will feature a series of films from the first Golden Age of Korean cinema from the 1950s and 1960s. Organized in collaboration with the Helsinki Cine Aasia festival, Finnish National Audiovisual institute KAVI, and the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), this themed series showcases works by renowned directors of the era across various genres. The series includes the following films:
For more information on the films and screening times, visit Kino Regina’s website.
Sorry, this entry is only available in suomi.
Helsinki Cine Asia achieved its highest-ever attendance in its 12th year. The growth was remarkable, with the total number of attendees increasing by approximately third compared to the previous year.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 years, audiences were first cautious in returning to theaters. However, it is evident that people are once again eager for high-quality cultural experiences. Particularly delightful was the discovery of new attendees who found their way to the festival’s screenings over the weekend.
“We are pleased that our carefully curated program has found theatergoers. There is clearly an audience and demand for Asian cinema in our country,” rejoices the festival’s artistic director Eija Niskanen.
A quarter of all festival screenings were sold out. The highest attendance was seen at the opening film, the Chinese film Only the River Flows, and Ripples, the latest film by Japanese director Ogigami Naoko.
Among the festival’s lineup, Japanese and Chinese films were particularly popular. However, the sold-out screening of the Vietnamese art house film Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell demonstrated significant interest in contemporary Southeast Asian cinema as well. The festival’s free discussion sessions also drew large crowds to the event corner of Kinopalatsi.
One of the festival’s most popular films, the Japanese LGBTQ+ film Egoist, will be screened for free at Helsinki City Civic Center Vuotalo on Wednesday, March 27th, at 6:00 PM.
The customer survey for 2024 is also now available. By taking part in the survey you will give the organisers valuable input, and you get a chance to win a screening pass for next year! The survey can be found here.
The next Helsinki Cine Asia festival will be held in spring 2025.
Helsinki Cine Asia festival is supported by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and the City of Helsinki.
The Movie Emperor is a comedic portrayal of the Chinese film industry and celebrity culture. Hong Kong star Andy Lau stars as a self-absorbed movie star trying to remain relevant.
– Eija, Artistic Director
I’m naturally excited about the extensive China section, especially since I haven’t seen all of its films yet! While I could recommend the entire program, let’s highlight the Korean films Work to Do ja Wild Roomer here. I haven’t seen the first one yet, but I expect a realistic and critical perspective on work-life structures, which is an intriguing topic globally. Wild Roomer, on the other hand, left an impression with its unhurried and slightly peculiar atmosphere.
– Jenni, Executive Director
The audience at the Tokyo International Film Festival, myself included, enjoyed A Long Shot with the full range of emotions. The action combined with subtle social criticism made a lasting impression on me. I personally look forward to seeing The Breaking Ice at this year’s HCA, as modern perspectives on the lives of young people in contemporary China are always mind-opening.
– Linda, Producer
Birth, which made an impact on me at the 2022 Busan festival, is an emotional, excellent depiction of a woman’s relationship with her body and external pressures during pregnancy. For more interesting female-centric storytelling, check out Solids by the Seashore, portraying friendship and love in a Thai beach town, a perfect film for March’s grayness!
– Muru, Publicist
It’s a rare treat to be able to see a South Korean indie production in Finland! Hail to Hell is not afraid to tackle some of the darker topics in South Korean society, such as bullying, suicide, and religious cults. However, the movie is far from a pity fest – the superb young protagonists are ready to stick it to their oppressors!
– Tuukka, Assistant Producer
As an avid cinephile, I can’t help but mention The Movie Emperor . My weakness lies in films about the film industry, especially satires, which this film by Ning Hao represents. Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, it immediately caught my interest, and it’s fantastic that it’s now being shown on the big screen in Finland too.
– Joonas, Assistant Producer
I’m involved in graphic design for the festival, and become familiar with the marketing images of films in the weeks leading up to the event. As a big nature lover and photographer, I was immediately drawn to the still from Snow Leopard; the image is inherently beautiful, and the subject matter also interests me a lot. I will definitely free up my schedule for this screening!
– Tiia, Graphic Designer
I joined the festival organization after the films were selected, so my knowledge of the program’s films is somewhat limited. However, films that have won prizes at Cannes are usually worth seeing. Therefore, I have high expectations for Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shellj and Only the River Flows. The latter’s neo-noir genre and the gradual revelation of the local community’s underlying secrets is right in my wheelhouse 🙂
– Tuomas, Website
The online ticketing has now begun, continuing throughout the festival. During the festival tickets are also sold at the screening locations.
Single tickets are 12 € and a 5 ticket Screening Pass is 48,00 €.
You can purchase the tickets from here.
The films have been selected for the Helsinki Cine Asia program fresh from some of Asia’s most prominent film festivals, and many of the films have also been seen in the main sections of international festivals.
The festival aims to provide an overview of the most interesting new releases of East and Southeast Asian cinema, which have gained great popularity in recent years, as well as an insight into the current Asian film culture.
Pema Tseden’s last film, the newest from Ogigami Naoko – and much more!
On Thursday, March 14th, at Cinema Orion, the opening film will be Wei Shujun’s intense and atmospheric neo-noir thriller Only the River Flows, which competed in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2023.
Additionally, the program features films from the Chinese cultural sphere, including The Movie Emperor starring Hong Kong legend Andy Lau. The program also includes the last film Snow Leopard by the Tibetan director Pema Tseden (1969-2023).
Among the Korean films, audiences will experience everything from unique girl power in Hail to Hell, to workplace challenges in Work to Do. The Japanese selection includes, among others, the black comedy Ripples which is the latest work from Ogigami Naoko, and Okiku and the World, chosen by Japanese critics as the best film of 2023.
Both the Thai film Solids by the Seashore and the Japanese film Egoist have an LGBT+ theme. The program also includes the visually stunning Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell from Vietnam, which has garnered attention from critics.
In addition to film screenings, the program includes free discussion events held at Kinopalatsi, addressing topics such as Japanese hospitality omotenashi with journalist and author Heikki Valkama.
The entire program can be explored here! Ticket sales for the festival begin on the website on Thursday, February 29th, 2024. Tickets for festival screenings cost 12 euros each, and a five-ticket package is available for 48 euros. Admission to the discussion events is free.
If you want Helsinki Cine Aasia festival to continue also in the future, remember to take part and come to the screenings 😊😘
Less than a month away, the Helsinki Cine Asia Festival will bring a wide selection of new quality Asian cinema to the big screen in Helsinki. The opening film on Thursday March 14th will be Wei Shujun’s Only the River Flows, a tense neo-noir thriller that competed in the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes in 2023. Other films already announced include the Japanese LGBTQ+ portrayal Egoist, the Vietnamese critics favourite Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, and the South Korean unconventional youth comedy-drama Hail to Hell.
The full program will be announced next Monday, February 26th, with ticket sales starting on Thursday, February 29th.
The opening film of the 2024 Helsinki Cine Aasia is Wei Shujun’s Only the River Flows. This tense and atmospheric neo-noir thriller, which competed in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in 2023, follows a police chief’s murder mystery investigation. The rural China of the 1990s provides an excellent backdrop for unexpected twists in the chief’s deepening investigation.
The film is based on the short story “Mistakes by the River” by Yu Hua, one of the leading names in contemporary Chinese literature. Wei Shujun’s latest work, known from previous Helsinki Cine Asia festivals, creates a captivating cinematic experience that you won’t want to miss!
The full festival program will be announced on February 26th.
The call for volunteers has already been closed.
The festival program includes a wide selection of the latest Asian films, with Kinopalatsi and Cinema Orion serving as familiar screening venues. During the festival, attendees can immerse themselves in the works of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other Asian filmmakers, spanning from delightful comedies to inspiring dramas.
For more information about the program and ticket sales, the best way is to follow Helsinki Cine Asia Festival on social media and on our website – stay tuned and ensure you don’t miss out on the latest news. Get ready for a journey into the enchanting world of Asian cinema, see you in March!
Sorry, this entry is only available in suomi.
Too many interesting movies and too little time? So many good films in the programme that it is impossible to choose? Our festival team is here to help you!
Eija, artistic director
” Your Lovely Smile tells us a story between documentary and fiction – of an indie movie director who tries to get his career running and his films screened in movie theaters. The leading role is played by Hirobumi Watanabe who has visted Helsinki Cine Aasia previously. “
Screenings:
Thu 16.3. at 17:45 Kinopalatsi 10
Sat 18.3. at 21:30 Kinopalatsi 10
”Japanese December is thematically close to the Finnish Kaija Saariahos and Sofi Oksanens modern opera Innocence: an old school shooting incident comes under scrutiny.”
Screenings:
Thu 16.3. at 19:45 Kinopalatsi 10
Sun 19.3. at 15:30 Kinopalatsi 10
Jenni, executive director
”Stone Turtle is a visually stunning combination of triller, otherworldly elements and societal critique. Strong women in a very new setting. An impressive film!”
Sat 18.3. at 17:00 Cinema Orion
Sun 19.3. at 17:00 Cinema Orion
”Indonesian Autobiography has been rightfully awarded at several festivals. The past military junta and its effects on modern day society are the heart of this drama that explores new paths. The viewer is invited to an intense journey!”
Screenings:
Fri 17.3. at 21:30 Kinopalatsi 9
Sun 18.3. at 19:15 Kinopalatsi 10
Joonas, publicist
”Return to Seoul The hypnotic role played by Park Ji-Min throws the viewer into a whirlwind of emotions. Freddie is a chararacter that makes you cry, makes you hate her and also evokes questions that can haunt you for days. The theme of the film is not a new one: identity searching has been made into a film many times before. But this time you are going to view something totally different.”
Thu 16.3. at 17.30 Cinema Orion
Johanna, publicist
“ Part of the selection for Cannes La Semaine de la Critique, The Next Sohee is a thought-provoking film of a young high school student, who starts working in a call center and meets her destiny in a tragic accident. The film is a strong outcry against unequality in the Korean society.
Screenings:
Fri 17.3. klo 19:00 Kinopalatsi 9
Sun 19.3. klo 13:15 Kinopalatsi 9
“I also recommend I am what I am. This is an unforgettable story of Kasumi, who doesn’t believe in romantic love. The film questions the traditional place of women in society and asks what could 21st century Japan be without these gender roles.”
Muru, executive producer
“I was enchanted by I am what I am during Busan International Film Festival. Toko Miura, who plays the role of Kasumi, does a magnificent role. The film takes the viewer to a journey that sheds light on asexuality and intergenerational gaps in Japan. A strong recommendation for anyone who has felt like an outsider at least once in their life.”
Fri 17.3. at 16:45 Kinopalatsi 9
Sat 18.3. at 16:30 Kinopalatsi 9
Online ticketing begins on Thursday 2 March, continuing throughout the festival. During the festival tickets are also sold at the screening locations. You can use a voucher to buy single or multiple tickets to the screenings you want. The voucher cannot be used to buy tickets for sold-out screenings.
Single ticket 11,00 € and a 5 ticket Screening Pass is 45,00 €. Free entrance to the Baby Kino, VR documentary Fukushima – The Home That Once Was and the special screening at Vuotalo.
You can purchase tickets from the Helsinki Cine Aasia website or here.
The Helsinki Cine Aasia festival opens with the intriguing co-production Return to Seoul (Retour à Séoul, 2022), which tells the story of a Korean adoptee in France who goes back to Seoul to search for her roots. The director Davy Chou is himself French-Cambodian. Individuals between two cultures can also be found in many other films at the festival. Society is a strong theme in such films as the Malaysian Stone Turtle (2022), which combines social critique to suspense and the supernatural, and the widely awarded Indonesian film Autobiography (2022).
The annual remembrance day of the Fukushima nuclear accident is in March and Helsinki Cine Aasia commemorates the topic in several ways. The virtual reality documentary Fukushima – The Home That Once Was takes us to villages emptied by the catastrophy, where we also meet former inhabitants. The film program also includes the catastrophy movie Fukushima 50 (Japan, 2020) where 50 nuclear plant worker fight against the inevitable. A discussion session will also go through the different ways the Fukushima disaster and its after effects have been presented in different media.
The programme has some oeuvres from well-known film-makers such as Lav Diaz and new Thai indie cinema. A discussion event on Korean entertainment industry will take place and the Korean modern classic Oldboy (2003) will be screened as a special treat.
The festival hosts a Baby Kino screening on 17 March with Arnold Is a Model Student (2022), which is the latest film from Thai filmmaker Sorayos Prapara. The screening is meant for audiences with toddlers and babies and is organised in collaboration with Kino Regina, Oodi Helsinki Central Library, and playground Loru.
The ticket sales begin on Thursday 2 March on the festival’s website. Tickets can also be purchased from theatres during the festival. Single tickets 11€. Baby-friendly screening is free and is meant for those who come with a toddler or a baby. Screening pass (5 screenings) 45 €.
The Helsinki Cine Aasia festival opens with the intriguing co-production Return to Seoul (Retour à Séoul, 2022), which tells the story of a Korean adoptee in France who goes back to Seoul to search for her roots. The director Davy Chou is himself French-Cambodian. Individuals between two cultures can also be found in many other films at the festival. Society is a strong theme in such films as the Malaysian Stone Turtle (2022), which combines social critique to suspense and the supernatural, and the widely awarded Indonesian film Autobiography (2022).
The annual remembrance day of the Fukushima nuclear accident is in March and Helsinki Cine Aasia commemorates the topic in several ways. The virtual reality documentary Fukushima – The Home That Once Was takes us to villages emptied by the catastrophy, where we also meet former inhabitants. The film program also includes the catastrophy movie Fukushima 50 (Japan, 2020) where 50 nuclear plant worker fight against the inevitable. A discussion session will also go through the different ways the Fukushima disaster and its after effects have been presented in different media.
The programme has some oeuvres from well-known film-makers such as Lav Diaz and new Thai indie cinema. A discussion event on Korean entertainment industry will take place and the Korean modern classic Oldboy (2003) will be screened as a special treat.
The festival hosts a Baby Kino screening on 17 March with Arnold Is a Model Student (2022), which is the latest film from Thai filmmaker Sorayos Prapara. The screening is meant for audiences with toddlers and babies and is organised in collaboration with Kino Regina, Oodi Helsinki Central Library, and playground Loru.
The ticket sales begin on Thursday 2 March on the festival’s website. Tickets can also be purchased from theatres during the festival. Single tickets 11€. Baby-friendly screening is free and is meant for those who come with a toddler or a baby. Screening pass (5 screenings) 45 €.
In search of identity in Seoul
The only festival of contemporary Asian cinema in Finland, Helsinki Cine Aasia, will take place from Thursday to Sunday 16 to 19 March 2023. The festival’ s goal is to offer a fresh take on Asian film culture and the most interesting films of the moment from East and Southeast Asia.
This year’s opening film is Davy Chou’s Return to Seoul (Retour à Séoul, France/Belgium/Germany/South Korea etc., 2022) which tells the story of a young woman who is after her Korean roots in Seoul. The film premiered at Cannes Film festival as a part of Un Certain Regard series in May 2022, will be seen in theatres in Finland later in the Spring.
We are back with a brand new programme for Helsinki audiences in March 2023. As in previous years, the films to hit silver screen have been selected from the most creative and latest works of East and Southeast Asian film makers. We are also hosting discussion events on Asian culture and society inspired by the topics of the films.
The films have been selected from the most recent works of Asian directors displayed on this year’s film festivals such as Busan International Film Festival in South Korea and film festivals in Japan.
We will announce new films to be screened at the festival weekly during February on our Facebook ja Instagramt accounts. Stay tuned! The full programme will be announced on February 28th.
The full list of Helsinki Cine Aasia theaters will be announced soon.
Ticket sales being online on March 2, 2023. Tickets can be purchased in theaters during the festival.
